The Temple of Kukulkan (shown above) was built as a tribute, by the Mayans, to one of the main Mesoamerican deities known as Quetzalcoatl.
The Common Man's Guide To Ancient Mesoamerica
In such an industrialized, modern country such as the United States, one forgets from time to time about the beginnings of Western hemisphere civilization. Humble yet extravagant. Simple yet sophisticated. Centuries ago, the peoples of ancient Mesoamerica were dominant; they prided themselves on their looming architecture, local arts, and religious beliefs . Although they are mostly extinct, their contributions in mathematics and still-standing architecture serve as a constant reminder of the lasting impact felt by American civilizations today.
Ancient Mesoamerican civilization can be divided into following time periods:
Ancient Mesoamerican civilization can be divided into following time periods:
- Paleo-Indian (12,000--8,000 BCE)
- Archaic (8,000--2,000 BCE)
- Pre-Classic (2,000 BCE--250 CE)
- Classic (250-900 CE)
- Post-Classic (900-1519 CE)
- Post-Conquest (1519-1697 CE)
- Colonial (1525-1821 CE)
Most of the information found on this website is centralized around the Archaic to Post-Classic time periods, focusing on the heights of Mesoamerican civilization and the time spans of its greatest growth. During the Post-Classic time periods, unique religions, mathematics and sciences, as well as heavy social divisions defined complex Mesoamerican societies, most notably the Aztecs and Mayans.
Links:
- www.utmesoamerica.org/about-mesoamerica