Mesoamerica

We explain what Mesoamerica is and what territories it covers. Also, its history and the main cultures.

What is Mesoamerica?

Mesoamerica is a cultural area of ​​the American continent that covers the territories of the current states of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and the western region of Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

The so-called Mesoamerican civilizations lived in this region. These are cultures of great ethnic and linguistic variety. Among the most important are the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Mayan and Aztec.

When talking about Mesoamerica, reference is not made to a geographical region, but to a cultural one. This means that The different societies that inhabited the region had common cultural traits linked to their political, economic and social organization.

Among the main characteristics of the cultures that inhabited Mesoamerica are:

• The development of agriculture (the main crops were corn, beans, cocoa, vegetables and pumpkins).
• The political power of religious castes and the creation of urban settlements around religious centers.
• The use of different writing systems and calendars.
• The creation of a common religious pantheon between different cultures.
• The artistic style and ceramic work technique distinguished each Mesoamerican civilization but shared common traits.

The history of Mesoamerica is divided into different periods (preclassic, classic and postclassic). The oldest nomadic tribes inhabited the northern regions around 7000 BC. C. Around 2500 BC. C. the first agricultural settlements appeared and around 200 BC. C., the first urban centers with a clear social differentiation.

During the postclassic period (900-1521 AD) the region was marked by war between different Mesoamerican societies. In the 16th century, the Spanish who arrived in America conquered the region and the pre-Columbian cultural diversity came under European rule.

Geographic location of Mesoamerica. Mesoamerica is located in the territory currently occupied by Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It limits to the west with the Pacific Ocean, to the east with the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, the north of North America and to the south with the current territory of Panama.

See also: Discovery of America

Mesoamerican cultures

Mesoamerica was inhabited by different cultures over time. Among the most important are those of the Olmecs, the Zapotecs, the Mayans, the Teotihuacans, the Mixtecs, the Aztecs and the Toltecs. Some of these civilizations existed at different times in Mesoamerican history and others were contemporary.

These societies had languages ​​and dialects of different origins. Specialists estimate that in Mesoamerica there were sixteen linguistic families, among which Nahuatl, Mixtec and Mayan stand out.

The most important Mesoamerican cultures were:

• The Mayans (2000 BC-1540 AD). They built different city-states in the Yucatan Peninsula governed by a political-religious caste and created a writing system.
• The Olmecs (1500-400 BC). They were characterized by their development of agriculture and the construction of large ceremonial centers.
• The Mixtecs (1500 BC-1523 AD). They were one of the cultures most dedicated to war and conquered various city-states in the region.
• The Zapotecs (500 BC-900 AD). They developed a complex stratified society, with unequal distribution of wealth and a privileged minority.
• The Teotihuacans (150 BC-1150 AD). They settled around the great city of Teotihuacán and developed distinctive techniques of working in ceramics and painting.
• The Toltecs (650-1150 AD). They dedicated themselves to regional commercial exchange and created a warrior culture that influenced the rest of the subsequent civilizations in the region.
• The Aztecs (1325-1521 AD). They were characterized by the construction of a centralized State that dominated much of Mesoamerica through the conquest of neighboring peoples.

History of Mesoamerica

The history of Mesoamerica can be divided into three major periods: preclassic, classic and postclassic.

• Preclassical period (2500 BC-200 AD). In this period, the first agricultural crops, the first ceramic work techniques and the first commercial networks in the region were developed. It was characterized by the emergence of societies with unequal distribution of wealth towards the end of the period and the creation of calendars and writing systems. The cultures of the Olmecs and Toltecs date from this period.
• Classic period (200-900 AD) This stage was characterized by the appearance of cities and the development of social hierarchy. In addition, large architectural complexes were built around religious temples with a large concentration of population. A pantheon of gods common to different Mesoamerican societies was also developed. The Zapotecs, the Mixtecs, the Teotihuacanos and the Mayans lived in this period.
• Postclassical period (900-1521 AD). This period was marked by the rise of military elites to political power, replacing the priestly class. It is a time of constant war with the growth and fall of different Mesoamerican societies. The architecture was marked by the construction of walls and the exaltation of large urban centers. The cultures of the Toltecs and the Mexica are characteristic of this period.

Cultural areas of Mesoamerica

Within Mesoamerica the following cultural areas can be distinguished: Northern Mesoamerica, Western Mesoamerica, Central Highlands, Gulf Coast, Guerrero, Oaxaca and the Mayan area.

Each of these areas is characterized by different features that identify it:

• Northern Mesoamerica It is a flat territory with a dry climate and little vegetation that is located between the Eastern Madre and Western Madre mountain ranges. In this area the Teotihuacan civilization developed during the classical period.
• Western Mesoamerica. It is the space that includes the slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre del Sur and the lower basin of the Lerma River. It is a territory covered by forests and fertile lands. The Purépecha and Caxcán cultures lived here.
• Central highlands. It is the area that includes the basin of Mexico and the high valleys of Morelos, Puebla-Tlaxcala and Toluca. It has large areas of fertile land. The first corn crops and the first ceramic production were carried out here. It was inhabited by the cultures of Teotihuacán, Texcoco, Tlacopan and Tenochtitlán.
• Gulf Coast It is an area of ​​natural wealth, fertile lands and great vegetation, which covers the surrounding lands of the Gulf of Mexico. Here the Olmec civilization and the cultures of Tajín, the Totonacos and the Huastecos arose.
• Warrior. It is the territory that is located between the mountains of the Transversal Volcanic Sierra and the Pacific coast. It has a rugged geography, with a large influx of rivers towards the coastal plain. It was inhabited by diverse cultures such as that of Yopitzinco. There was also the influence of cultures from other regions such as the Olmec, the Toltec and the Mexica.
• Oaxaca. It is the area between the coast of the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Sur. Its territory covers mountainous areas and coastal plains. The Mixtec and Zapotec cultures developed there.
• Mayan area. This is the territory that extends from the Yucatan Peninsula to the mountains of Chiapas and the coast of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. It has a geography dominated by tropical areas and a mountain climate. The Mayan culture lived here, developing dozens of cities throughout pre-Columbian history.

References

• Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023). “Mesoamerican civilization.” Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/
• López Austin, Alfredo; and López Luján, Leonardo (2001): The indigenous past. Mexico City: The College of Mexico.
• Peregrine, P. and Ember, M. (2001). “Introduction”. Encyclopedia of Prehistory. Volume 5: Middle America. Springer Science+Business Media.