Classic Period Key Sites and Issues

Classic Period Key Sites

• Teotihuacan, located in the Valley of Mexico, features the Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, Temple of Quetzalcoatl, and various palaces and apartment compounds.
• Cholula, in the Valley of Puebla, is known for its massive pyramid and as a center of Mixteca-Puebla art.
• Cerro de las Mesas in Veracruz was a central site of the Veracruz civilization, historically connected to the Olmec.
• Monte Alban in Oaxaca is a significant hilltop site, featuring elaborate tombs and incense burners, established during the Preclassic era.

Classic Period Key Issues

• The classic period spans from 150 AD to 900 AD and is characterized by defining elements such as timing and cultural features.
• Mesoamerican deities exhibit unique characteristics with rich mythologies.
• Teotihuacan’s city planning indicates advanced organization, with key artifacts like slab-foot cylinder vases and masks.
• Notable contact and influence between Teotihuacan and the Maya, including factors leading to the decline of Teotihuacan.

Rise of Great Civilizations

• The classic period is regarded as a golden age that saw widespread literacy through Mayan and Zapotec hieroglyphics.
• A significant population increase occurred during this time, with many ruins dating back to the classic period.
• Introduction of pottery molds possibly derived from South America.

Teotihuacan

• Teotihuacan featured a complex bureaucracy with evident military governance and warrior cults.
• Trade routes and contacts facilitated the exchange of art styles across Mesoamerica, suggesting both cultural spread and conquest.
• At its peak, Teotihuacan's influence was unmatched in the region.

Urbanism in Teotihuacan

• Teotihuacan was renowned for its planned urban layout, with good agricultural land and water sources.
• Legends describe it as a gathering place for gods to choose a sun god.
• City design features an intersecting avenue system dividing the city into quarters, anchored by three primary pyramids.

Pyramid of the Sun

• Positioned east of the Avenue of the Dead, constructed in stages during the late Preclassic.
• Each side measures 700 feet and rises to 200 feet, with remnants of an older pyramid inside.
• Associated with the storm god Tlaloc, featuring offerings of figurines and children, and a moat on three sides.

Pyramid of the Moon

• Contains six earlier pyramid structures, reflects the sacred Cerro Gordo mountain model.
• The first offering included various significant items, including eagles and human sacrifice.
• Burial of three elite Maya individuals on its summit around 350 AD highlights its cosmopolitan nature.

Temple of Quetzalcoatl

• Smaller than the main pyramids, it features a unique talud-tablero architectural style.
• Decorated with feathered serpent sculptures; its walls depict creation myths and contrasting themes of fire, water, and fertility.
• Sacrifices included 200 individuals, with notable looting and remains suggesting cultural significance and controversy.

Palaces and Apartment Complexes

• The city comprised walled residential areas divided into apartments, emphasizing social stratification.
• Differences in room sizes, artwork, and construction quality reflect varying social statuses among inhabitants.
• The compound layout may denote extended families living closely together.

Cosmopolitan Teotihuacan

• A melting pot of diverse cultures including Maya and Zapotec, with distinct neighborhoods reflecting different customs and gods.
• The western sector was predominantly Zapotec, while the eastern sector maintained strong connections with Veracruz and Maya civilizations.

Compound Layout (Tetitla)

• Residential compounds were one-story, square formations with temple structures arranged around central courtyards.
• Often featured small altars and possibly sunken basins for ritual purposes.