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.