| Beginning circa 200 b.c.e. in the northern Valley of Mexico, Teotihuacán developed into an urban size city in the Valley of Mexico. Dominating Mexico for about six centuries with trade in western Mexico and the Yucatan, it will conquer rivals as far south as the Valley of Guatemala, becoming the most powerful civilization in central Mexico. Teotihuacán grew to one of the largest cities in the world by 500 a.d. with a surface area of over 8 square miles and a population that reached 125,000. Then, for causes as yet undetermined, it will suffer a catastrophic collapse circa 650 a.d. Its temples and monuments will be burned and looted and the collapse will be felt all over the Mesoamerican world. |
| TEOTIHUACAN GALLERY |
| Teotihuacán had nothing like the writing systems of the Maya or Olmec. Instead, a system of signs and notations were used. Their meaning and purpose are obscure and some do appear in their sculpture, mural painting, and decorated ceramics. What is missing is the usual connotations representing rulers, events or dates . "No scenes glorify specific individuals, and human beings are shown subordinate only to deities, not to other human beings... Most scenes show human beings so loaded with clothing and insignia that faces and other body parts are barely visible. Emphasis is on acts rather than actors; on offices rather than office-holders". (State and Society at Teotihuacán, Mexico by George L. Cowgill) |
| As with most Mesoamerican societies Teotihuacán will suffer the same fate. Government, religion and society will be unable to adapt to newly developed influence from within and without. Population growth, severe agricultural misuse, militaristic pressures from other groups and environmental concerns will play a significant role in its collapse. The Teotihuacán civilization was destroyed in what may have been a class struggle between inhabitants as is suspected by the burning of temples and upper class homes and the destruction of religious icons. Outside forces may have been involved as well. The one conclusion that can be reached is that the violence itself was a concerted effort to eradicate the emblems of Teotihuacán suzerainty. |
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