HIST 1111 Dr. Timothy May 1
Living in America: New World Civilizations
Dr. Timothy May
I. Mesoamerican Civilizations-Classic Period 150-900 CE
a. Classic Era
b. Main centers of civilization
i. Great Valley of Mexico
ii. Yucatan and Guatemala, Southern Mexico
c. Teotihuacan
i. 200,000 people
1. supported by intensive agriculture
ii. religious site
1. size of temples indicate probable state support
2. many gods worshipped
3. most of the art is religious in nature
iii. Influence
1. reached southward to Mayan regions
2. long period of peace and stability
3. later buildings --secular
iv. By 700s Teotihucan in decline.
d. Classic Maya
i. 300-900 CE.
1. up to 50 city states
a. included Tikal, Copan, Quiriga and Palenque
b. populations between 30,000-80,000
c. shared common culture
ii. monumental architecture in pyramids
iii. written language
iv. religion
v. political and social organization.
vi. cities primarily ceremonial centers
1. temples
2. administrative buildings
3. ritual ball courts
4. elite residences
5. monuments commemorated secular and religious events.
vii. Religion, Writing, Society
1. Complex calendar and writing systems greatest Mayan
achievements
a. Calendar
b. Mathematics
c. Writing system
i. based on phonetic and semantic elements
ii. similar to Sumerian and Chinese
