The Classic Period

Ch.6- M. CoeTeotihuacanMonte Alban

VeracruzMaya Classic Splendor: Early

Period (Ch.4 Coe)

The Classic Period• Rise of civilizations- 150-900AD

• Climate• Lowlands- Long Count Calendar• Cuicuilco• Main Deities:– Rain & Fire (Tlaloc and Huehueteotl)– Feathered Serpent: Quetzalcoatl

• Teotihuacan– Neolithic period– Theocracy

Teotihuacan• Introduction– “Place where men go to become Gods”– First planned city in Mesoamerica– Influenced many other civilizations throughout

• Geographical location– Central location– Northeast of Mexico City– Population of 125,000+• Ethnic center for Zapotec, Maya, etc.

Teotihuacan

• Architecture- palaces, temples, & apartments– Talud-tablero style– Residential compounds (165 by 200ft. Square)– Palace compounds • Xolalapan, Tetitla, Zacuala, Atetelco)• Quetzal-Butterfly palace

– Murals• Tepantitla- Spider Woman

Teotihuacan- Architecture

• Temple of Quetzalcoatl• The Citadel • Avenue of the Dead• The Pyramid of the Sun• The Plaza of the Moon• The Pyramid of the Moon

Teotihuacan- Religion/Pantheon• Spider Woman- creation & fertility• Sun God & Moon Goddess• Tlaloc- Rain God• Chalchiuhtlicue- Water Goddess• Xipe-Totec- “Our Lord the Flayed One”• Huehueteotl- “Old Man of Fire”• Quetzalcoatl- fertility symbol?• Most deities were connected with Maize & its

well-being

Socioeconomic System & Trade• Evidence of a market with many ethnic groups.• Crops: maize, beans, squash, chile peppers, cotton, and maguey-

nopales (“tunas”), beans, pumkins, squash, avocados, amaranth.• “Roza” and “chinampas” systems• Game: deer, rabbit, turkeys, fish, dogs, wild ducks and geese.• Household items:

– Metates, ceramic bowls– Spin wheels & needles/thread– Paper with maguey– Trading with other towns

• Social stratification– Possible cause of decline

Teotihuacan- Arts, Crafts, and Clothing

• Elegant art style portrayed in frescoes, sculpture, pottery and masks.

• Hallmark being the cylindrical pottery vase.

• Weapons and obsidian artifacts– Control green obsidian deposits in

Hidalgo.• Bone needles for clothing- and

basketry – Men- loincloths/kilt with sandals– Women- huipilli and underskirt– Priests- elaborate costumes with exotic

feathers, jade or seashell & jewelry.

Art & Masks

• Functions are unknown– Funerary purpose– Sympathetic magic• Stone, jade, obsidian and gold (later period)• Facial features indicate peace and wisdom (ideals?)

Teotihuacan• Decline and Fall– 700AD

– Invaders burned the city – Internal crisis– Political or economic problems– Continued habitation for 200 years- Coyotlatelco– Moved to Atzcapotzalco– Crisis impacted all classic civilizations during the 9th

century A.D.• Climatic change? • Chichimeca invasion?

Early Maya• Cacaxtla– Maya advanced knowledge– Tezcatlipoca- War God– Paintings are Maya– Knightly orders: Eagles & Jaguars

• Xochicalco– Location: Morelos– 650-900AD– Population- 8-15,000– Ball-Game courts– Great pyramid– Feathered Serpent Pyramid– Underground observatory– Decline & Fall

Gulf Coast- Veracruz

• Classic Veracruz– El Tajín

• Remojadas• Monte Alban- Classic

El Tajín• Most important site of the Classic

period in Veracrúz.• Ball Game- 9-14 ball courts found• Cultural Influences• Diet & Economy• Origin of its name• Religion• Los Voladores

• Decline/Fall- around 1250AD.

Remojadas Culture• Location- Central Veracruz• Origin- 1300BC to 200BC

• Diet & Religion• Clothing• Decline

Zapotec- Monte Alban• Location & dates– Four Phases (500BC-900AD)

• Diet & Social Organization• Religion-poytheistic– Cozobi- Corn God– Cocijo Rain– Copizja- Sun– Bezelao- Fertility

• Calendar system• Decline