After understanding the focal point that was Tenochtitlan in the Aztec empire, I took a day trip to Teotihuacan, just 40 minutes northeast of Tenochtitlan, where many different societies - the Olmecs, Toltecs, Nahuatls, Mayans - all lived in harmony in this progressive city. In fact, these ancient civilizations were so harmonious that they had not seen war for centuries until the Spanish conquest. Prior to the Spanish conquest, Teotihuacan was a ceremonial center in a grand metropolis where small communities were established surrounding the Anahuac culture. To this day, it is divided into neighborhoods, palaces, temples, schools, markets, houses, and much more. Without a doubt, the Aztec's ability to preserve and expand this nexus of civilization makes it a landmark worth seeing.
Before I go into the architectural wonder that was Teotihuacan, I learned a good bit about the timeline of these ancient peoples who occupied this areas for millennia.
Chronology
750 - 600 BC : The first traces of Teotihuacan as small villages
200 BC: Conglomeration of small buildings
150 BC - 300 AD: Creation of the architecture alluding to agriculture (Agriculture Temple, farms, praising of animals). This kind of architecture saw its influence in other major regions of Meso-America, including Tenochtitlan.
200 AD: Period known as Teotihuacan 1 and 2 where the Temple of the Citadel was built
300 AD: Teotihuacan officially became the primary regional hegemony
350 - 650 AD: Period known as Teotihuacan, which saw the greatest expansion in culture, importance in Anahuac community, and construction of the Quetzalcoatl Temple.
400 - 600 AD: Formed huge habitation complexes with flourishing murals. Teotihuacan became an important center of attraction for its artistic, commercial, and religious prestige.
650 - 750 AD: Period known as Teotihuacan 4 which is characterized by its abandonment for an unknown reason
800 AD: Completely abandoned
1215: Rediscovered by the Mexicas where they remained until the Christian era
750 - 600 BC : The first traces of Teotihuacan as small villages
200 BC: Conglomeration of small buildings
150 BC - 300 AD: Creation of the architecture alluding to agriculture (Agriculture Temple, farms, praising of animals). This kind of architecture saw its influence in other major regions of Meso-America, including Tenochtitlan.
200 AD: Period known as Teotihuacan 1 and 2 where the Temple of the Citadel was built
300 AD: Teotihuacan officially became the primary regional hegemony
350 - 650 AD: Period known as Teotihuacan, which saw the greatest expansion in culture, importance in Anahuac community, and construction of the Quetzalcoatl Temple.
400 - 600 AD: Formed huge habitation complexes with flourishing murals. Teotihuacan became an important center of attraction for its artistic, commercial, and religious prestige.
650 - 750 AD: Period known as Teotihuacan 4 which is characterized by its abandonment for an unknown reason
800 AD: Completely abandoned
1215: Rediscovered by the Mexicas where they remained until the Christian era
The City of Teotihuacan
This cultural nexus saw many advances in architecture, society, and culture. Some of the highlights include:
This cultural nexus saw many advances in architecture, society, and culture. Some of the highlights include:
- A population between 75,000 and 125,000 people
- Road of the Dead (cemetary of some sort) being 2 km in length and 40 meters in width
- El Templo de la Serpiente Emplumada (Temple of the Feathered Snake - take a wild guess who that's about) and a citadel that 400 meters on each side
- Sun Pyramid which has a base of 225 meters and a height of 65 meters
- Moon Pyramid which had a base of 150 meters and a height of 46 meters
- Temple of Feathered Snails
- Kangaroo Palace