As the Olmec culture disappeared, large city centers arose in the Mesoamerican region. These central, independent cities dominated surrounding towns and villages, in an arrangement sometimes called city-states. The greatest city-states from 300 B. c.E. to 250 c. E. were Teotihuacan, Tikal, Monte Alban, and Cuicuilco. Wealthy classes emerged, gaining their riches primarily through land ownership (running big farms) or military means (winning wars). But these city-states grew and thrived far more through trade than by conquering others.
In the Valley of Mexico, the two major city-states were Teotihuacan and Cuicuilco. At more than eight square miles in area, Teo-tihuacan was the largest city built in the Americas before the arrival of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) in 1492. It was located in a fertile valley close to sources of water, making it easy to farm. The local
Area also had large quantities of green obsidian, and this volcanic glass was traded for food, highly prized tropical bird feathers, and seashells. Teotihuacan became known for its outstanding artisans (skilled workers who make things by hand), particularly those who worked with obsidian. The city was located on a main route to the coast. Travelers and traders moving between the Valley of Mexico and the Pacific coast went right through Teoti-huacan, helping trade expand.
New Old Writing
In 2006, archaeologists found a large slab covered with carvings that were believed to be the work of the olmecs. The stone's carvings date to about 600 b. c.e. and feature images or symbols sometimes called glyphs. the stone slab has been named the cascajal block, after the spot in Mexico where it was found.
The slab weighs 26 pounds and is 14 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 5 inches thick. Some archaeologists call the carvings an early form of writing, though the olmecs did not have the type of alphabet used today. So far, the glyphs have not been decoded. Scientists hope that additional finds will give them clues about the meaning of the ancient writing.
Cuicuilco emerged a little before Teotihuacan and may have had as many as 20,000 residents. It had a number of pyramids and a canal that carried water to irrigate farms. The city’s location,
However, led to its end. Sometime between 100 and 50 b. c.e., the local volcano erupted and destroyed Cuicuilco. Lava covered most of the farmland, making it impossible to grow food locally. The people who survived the eruption moved to Teotihuacan.
By 1 C. E., Teotihuacan had more than 40,000 residents. Five hundred years later, the city’s population may have reached 200,000, making it one of the largest cities in the world. Teotihuacan continued to grow in an organized fashion. It featured broad avenues and large pyramids that were temples to the gods. At the pyramids, people made offerings (left gifts) for their gods. Human sacrifices may have been made at the pyramids as well. Another large structure, the Palace of the Jaguars, was at the far end of the Avenida de los Muertos—the Avenue of the Dead. Priests paraded along the avenue during religious rituals.
Teotihuacan thrived until about 650 c. e., when enemies from the north attacked and a great fire destroyed the city. For some unknown reason, the people did not rebuild the city. Instead, the population began moving to other growing cities. Within a few hundred years, the great city of Teotihuacan was deserted.
The stunning remains of the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon in the ancient city of Teotihuancan are now a protected World Heritage Site.
Some historians believe the people of Teotihuacan may have contributed to their city’s ruin. In their quest to build the most beautiful city, they damaged the area’s environment. They dug up the land surrounding the city to get the lime that was needed for making plaster—a major ingredient in the city’s buildings. As the city grew, the need for plaster increased and more land was destroyed. Eventually, the damage was too great. The soil on the surrounding land could not grow enough food, and hunters could not find enough game to feed the people. It became harder to bring food to the city, so people began leaving.
World History
