The 5 PERIODS of Mesoamerica and their CHARACTERISTICS

One of the most interesting cultural areas in the history of mankind is the so-called Mesoamerica, being an area of ​​the central American zone in which for years some of the most important towns in American history have passed. To know in depth the history of this region, in this lesson from a Professor we must talk about the Mesoamerican periods and their characteristics.

Index

1. Mesoamerican Periods: Paleo-Indian
2. Archaic Period of Mesoamerica
3. Preclassic Period of Mesoamerica
4. Classical period
5. Postclassic Period

We begin by knowing the different periods of Mesoamerica and their characteristics to tell you about the Paleo-Indian.

Located between the years 10,000 BC C. and 3500 a. C., is the period of the mesoamerican history of which we have less information. Here we find the first remains of human beings in the area and ending with the evolution of the settlers to a proto-civilization with elements such as agriculture or the first sedentary bases.

The cultures existing in this period cannot be named in a specific way, since they did not have elements that make us group them into a set of society or civilization, being just a group of prehistoric beings with the elements of those times. We can only say that the areas already inhabited in these times were Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and some Mexican areas, so in these areas what we know as mesoamerican culture.

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Located between the 3500 a. C. and 2500 a. C., is the period in which the first settlements of the Mesoamerican peoples, already occupying almost the entire area that we now know as Mesoamerica, but without yet forming any great civilization.

With Mesoamericans already forming sedentary cultures, the influence of the farming, especially of typical products such as corn; the use of ceramics and textiles; and the first social classes.

It could be considered as the birth of the Mesoamerican tribes before the emergence of society as such.

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The first of the great historical Mesoamerican periods, being located chronologically between the years 2500 BC C. and 200 d. C. It was the time when the first great civilizations of Mesoamerican history appeared and, especially, the mother culture of the olmec; but also others like Zapotec, the teotihuacana and the first Mayan settlements.

At this time the greatest features of Mesoamericans, such as:

• Corn cultivation
• The creation of pyramids
• sacrifices to the gods
• The figure of the jaguar and the feathered serpent
• The calendar
• The Mesoamerican ball game
• Construction of huge pantheons of gods

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Located between 200 d. C. and 900 d. C., the classic Mesoamerican period is considered as the stage with the greatest changes in Mesoamerican society, with the emergence of numerous city-states of mayan influence with similarities to each other, but also with enormous differences that created areas facing each other.

The three main cultures at this time were:

• The maya, which dominated numerous villages throughout the area but without a central point of influence
• Teotihuacan culture that they were able to dominate the area of ​​the Valley of Mexico although we do not have too many sources on them
• Zapotec culture which maintained its influence in the Oaxaca area.

Characteristics of this Mesoamerican period

Among the main characteristics of this Mesoamerican period we can speak of:

• Agricultural improvements to improve production and make it intensive
• A demographic increase that increased the size of cities
• A differentiation of different cultures to form smaller and more independent peoples
• An evolution in urbanism
• A more warlike society between the different peoples

To conclude this lesson on the Mesoamerican periods and their characteristics, we must talk about the last of these periods, known as Postclassic period, which took place between the 900 AD C. and 1521 d. C. It was a very long stage that could only end with the arrival of the European colonizers and the end of Mesoamerican cultures as such.

Considered as the period of greater chaos and wars in Mesoamerican history, since due to the great differences that arose during the Classic period, the peoples Mesoamericans began to confront each other over inequalities and sought to seize power from all cultures possible.

Although some cultures such as the Mayan remained, this period is characterized by the appearance of the aztecs, being a great empire that took many of the most important areas in the Mesoamerican region and stood as the most powerful people until the arrival of the Europeans.

Characteristics of this Mesoamerican period

The Postclassic period dragged on over the years, so it is important to talk about its features for the great relevance they have in Mesoamerican history. The main elements of this period are the following:

• It was a period with a great cultural decline, war being more important than culture.
• Mesoamerican had a huge demographic increase, therefore, expansion is necessary.
• There were many experiments in politics, with appearances of military governments, bourgeois and emperors.
• The jewelry it achieved an enormous evolution, being widely used for trade between peoples.
• The migrations they became commonplace due to the numerous droughts.
• The war it was the center of society, especially in the Aztec case.
• Were achieved Big steps in all areas, but especially in those that served for war.

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• Wolf, E. R. (1967). Peoples and cultures of Mesoamerica (Vol. 81, No. 14). Editions Era.
• Clark, J. AND. (1990). Olmecs, Olmecism and Olmecization in Mesoamerica. Archeology, 3, 49-56.
• Florescano, E. (2009). The origins of power in Mesoamerica. Mexico: Economic Culture Fund.