THE 7 CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TOLTECS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Among the contributions of the most important Toltecs are their art of war, sculpture and extensive commercial networks. The Toltec people inhabited much of the north-central part of what is now Mexico from the fall of Tehotihuacán until the beginning of the Aztec empire, that is, approximately between 900 AD and 1150 AD.

Its capital was the mythical city of Tollan or Tula, which was located about 80 kilometers, approximately, from present-day Mexico City. Much of what is known about this culture has come through the mythology of the Aztec people, who venerated it in their stories. According to them, the city of Tula existed for more than five hundred years with about four million inhabitants.

According to this story, the Toltec people and their gigantic city disappeared due to war and famine, so many migrated, distributing their culture throughout Mesoamerica.

This information, however, does not match all archaeological finds, but it does give an idea of ​​the powerful cultural influence they had on the peoples that followed. For example, the Mayan city of Chichen Itzá has features of a Toltec presence.

What is certain is that this town was a warrior; its architecture, its sculpture, its religion and other arts are shaped by all kinds of warlike references and its influence has transcended the geographical and temporal borders of Mesoamerica.

Seven historical contributions of the Toltec people

1- The war

Frequently, the Toltec people clashed with their neighbors in search of conquering new territories, imposing their religious worship and obtaining human sacrifices for the great god Quetzacoátl.

Their presence was imposing during the battle, they used plumes of feathers, decorated breastplates, and as weapons, swords and small shields for close combat.

The record of all this is reflected in the military iconography of sculptures and friezes in Tollan. Thanks to their aggressiveness they were able to expand their domain over a wide territory.

2- Art and sculpture

The vastness of Toltec cultural wealth has left deep cultural traces and an extensive physical heritage. Pottery, architecture, sculpture and painting are some of the artistic fields of which there are vestiges.

After the fall of the great city of Tehotihuacán in 750 AD, the Toltecs appropriated much of the knowledge of its inhabitants.

The city of Tula has impressive pyramids decorated with colorful relief paintings and friezes, and giant mythological statues that support its ceiling.

As an immortal reminder of his legacy are his statues. The Atalantes, for example, are huge statues representing four important warriors in full armor.

Another impressive sculpture is the wall of the snakes that, as a relief, represents several of these reptiles with geometric motifs devouring human skeletons.

Its pottery, no less prodigious, was abundant, however most of what was found in Tula arrived there thanks to trade and payment of tributes.

3- Human sacrifices

The Chac Mool are anthropomorphic statues in whose belly they hold a receptacle for the head and the blood of the sacrifices. In the city of Tula, several of these statues have been found.

Likewise, the square in which the sacrifices were made had a tzompantli, that is, a special place to place the skulls of the sacrificed human victims.

4- The cult of Quetzacoátl

Quetzacoátl means feathered serpent. Although there was already a cult linked to this god before the Toltecs, it was not until the 10th century AD that it spread throughout much of the Mesoamerican territory. The military conquests of the Toltecs imposed the cult.

Even for the Aztecs, a later civilization, the cult of Quetzacoátl was still very important.

For them, the cosmos was destroyed and rebuilt from time to time due to the fights of the feathered serpent with his brother Tezcatlipoca.

Legend has it that on one occasion, Tezcatlipoca, disguised as a doctor, gave alcohol to his brother Quetzacoátl, who, drunk, committed incest with his sister Quetzapétatl. Embarrassed by his act, the god headed east toward the gulf.

5- The presence in the Mayan territory

Shortly before the Toltec people raised their imposing capital, Tula, the classic period of the Mayan culture was coming to an end. Some cities like Palenque, Tikal and Clakmul were abandoned for unknown reasons.

However, one city in particular flourished: Chichen Itza, in whose vestiges important features of Toltec art and culture appear.

Some of them are the Chac Mools, friezes with reliefs of important warriors, columns, animal profiles and many other things very similar to those found in Tula. In addition to the cult of Quetzacoátl.

6- The extensive commercial networks

Most Mesoamerican cultures have developed commercial networks. Tula was, at its busiest, an important commercial center.

In its remains, pieces of pottery have been found that belong to places as distant as Costa Rica or Nicaragua.

Despite this, and perhaps due to the multiple looting that the city has suffered, only one piece of jade has been found, an essential element of Mesoamerican trade.

7- His mysterious disappearance

It is not known exactly how or why such an influential culture as the Toltec disappeared. What is known for sure is that the once splendid and imposing city of Tula was looted and burned.

Archaeological discoveries suggest that, to a large extent, this was caused by the violent and conquering character of this civilization, however it has not been possible to determine the true cause of its disappearance in the middle of the 12th century AD.

References

1. Adams, R. (1991). Prehistoric Mesoamerica. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
2. Brinton, D. (1887). Are the Toltecs an Historic Nationality? (pp. 229-241).
3. Britannica, E. (2017). Toltec People. Obtained from Toltec People: britannica.com.
4. Charles River Editors. (2014). The History and Culture of the Toltec. Lexington: Charles Rivers Editors.
5. Nigel, D. (1987). The Toltecs: Until the Fall of Tula. Norman: The University of Oklahoma Press.