ancient civilizations of the americas lecture 11 the basin of mexico in the early classic
TRANSCRIPT
Ancient Civilizations of the AmericasLecture 11
The Basin of Mexico in the Early Classic
The Culture of Teotihuacan
The Political System
“Arrival” (entrada) of Siyaj K’ak (“Fire Born”) at El Perú (Guatemala) on Jan. 23rd, 378 AD.
-at Tikal (Guatemala) on Jan. 31st 378 AD.
-Chak Tok Ich’aak, king of Tikal, “enters the water” (dies) on the same day. Tikal monuments are destroyed.
Siyaj K’ak’ installs a Teotihuacano leader,at Uaxactun, Tikal in 379, at Bejuca in 381, and at Rio Azul in 383, and possibly at Palenque.
Tikal Stela 32
The Marcador text at Tikal refers to Spearthrower Owl, who’s date of accession is given in 374 AD.
The Marcador from Tikal, dated to 413 AD.
Leader installed at Tikal is a son of Spearthrower Owl named Yax Nuun Ayiin. Siyaj K’ak’ rules as regent.
atlatl
Flexible shield with Tlaloc image
Stela 31, Tikal
Spearthrower Owl’s death is given as 439 AD.
Mosaic monster mask
Foreign influences at Teotihuacan
Fragment of Mayan hieroglyphic text – deity impersonation.
Compound possibly occupied by Maya
Quetzalpapálotl Palace
Teotihuacan’s Religion
Gods: The Great Goddess
Mural from Tepantitla
From the Plaza of the Moon
Nauhtl: Ololiuhqui aka Datura
Bottom portion of Tepantitla mural
Pyramid of the Sun
• Originally excavated and reconstructed by Leopoldo Batres.
• Constructed over a cave that ends in four lobes. Pyramid construction began 100 AD.
• Consists of four stages, 63m high.
• Caches have been recently discovered.
Tlaloc
Xipe Totec
The Flayed One
World-renowned Mesoamerican religion expert on assignment at Teotihuacan in 1964
Jaguar eating a human heart
Blood Sacrifice
The Potential Languages of Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan symbols
venus year
Teotihuacan Economics: Entrepot Sites/Ports of Trade:
Matacapan
Thin Orange Pottery – Made in the Tepexi Region, Puebla
Teotihuacano Markets:
The Great Marketplace
The Merchant’s Barrio
Circular dwellings
High frequency of
Veracruz-style pottery
The Oaxacan Barrio
Tlailotlacan
AD 300-650
Craft Production during the Middle Horizon 200-750 AD
•Teotihuacan is organized into compounds.
•Craft production is localized in compounds
12% of the cities’ population is involved in obsidian production
600 workshops found to date
“Theater” Incense braizers were made in the ciudadela.
Teotihuacan’s Collapse
Teotihuacan’s influence on centers beyond the basin of Mexico had ended by 600 AD.
The city center was destroyed around AD 700.
A much reduced population continued to exist for another two centuries in the city, a phase called Coyotlatelco.
The collapse could have been brought on by deforestation (to make plaster) or increased aridity.