ANTH 219 Assignment: Mesoamerican Civilization Analysis

This assignment provides a comprehensive overview of Mesoamerican civilizations, encompassing various cultures such as the Aztecs, Mayas, Olmecs, Teotihuacanos, and Zapotecs. It details the historical periods, including the Hunter-Gatherer, Pre-Classic, Classic, and Post-Classic periods, highlighting key developments like the emergence of agriculture, social stratification, and the rise and fall of major city-states. The assignment discusses shared cultural features, such as food habits and religious practices, while also acknowledging the diversity in languages and traditions. It covers the impact of the Spanish Conquest and the subsequent Colonial period. The assignment is a response to an ANTH 219 module, exploring civilizations not covered in depth in the course readings. The paper references several sources to support its claims.

Running head: MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATION
Mesoamerican civilization
Name of the Student:
Name of the university:
Author Note

1
MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATION
The term Mesoamerica refers to the middle of America literally and hints at a region
which lies between Isthmus of Panama and the southernmost border of United States of America.
This also includes Central America and Mexico. Mesoamerica cannot be quite put linearly and is
impressively dynamic. It is a unification of different styles and cultures adhering to different
history and chronology.
These ancient civilizations can commonly be distinguished as Aztecs, Teotihuacanos,
Olmecs, Mayas and Zapotecs. They had diverse culture and geographical characteristics. The
Mesoamericans also showed shared features and attributes which developed through mutual
communication (Carmack, Gasco & Gossen 2016). They had similar food habits and myths of
origin and religious practices. Besides, they also had great diversity in languages and traditions.
According to the archaeological accounts, the civilization and its history can be classified in a
few major periods and sub-periods.
The Hunter-Gatherer Period can be further divided into sub Periods like Preclovis, Paleo-
Indian and Archaic periods, respectively. The Preclovis Period which uncertainly ranged from
(25,000-10,000 BC) does not have enough valid accounts at it covers a tentative timeframe with
handful of sites only with discreet testimonies to substantiate them. The Paleo-Indian Period
(10,000-7,000 BC), shows the first human inhabitants of Mesoamerica who are fully attested
who were hunter-gatherers and belonged to Clovis Period. The Archaic Period (7,000-2500 BC)
comprises of the period where we find testimony of large mammals being extinct (Coe, 2017).
We also find account of new inventions like maize domestication, which were done by archaic
hunter-gatherers till 6,000 BC.
The Pre-Classic or Formative Periods is thought to begin with the emergence of Maya
civilization. The innovation which marks the shift is from horticulture to full-time agriculture.

2
MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATION
The early Pre-Classic period show increase of Pottery use and movements from village to
elaborate organization and architecture. The Middle Pre-Classic Period is classified with the
increase of equalities in social spheres. The elites had greater access to luxury items and building
public architecture, which became a hallmark for Middle formative (Faust, Richter, 2015). The
Late Preclassic period witnessed a huge population increase and emergence of regional state
societies. This period also shows evidences of a different view of Universe, particularly pan-
Mesoamerican having creation myths, multilayered cosmos and new deities.
During the Classic Period, complex societies dramatically increased and got divided into
sub-groups having varying population, scale and complexities. The early Classic Period marks
the zenith of Teotihuacan in Mexico, which is among the biggest metropolis of the early world.
There was a widespread of centralized authority and economic connections Ganeri, 2016). The
beginning of the Late Classic Period is classified by the downfall of Teotihuacan in the central
parts of Mexico with fragmentation of political conditions. The Maya sites saw an increase in
competition.
The Post-Classic period tentatively falls in between Classic period and the Spanish
Conquest. The largest empires and states got converted into city and central towns. These lands
were ruled by hereditary elites and kings. There were massive increase in military conflict and
violence between competing empires.
Another period which began after the surrender of Cuauhtemoc to the Hernan Cortes
along with the fall of Aztec capital of Tenochitlan is the Colonial period. Mesoamerica was
governed as a Spanish colony after the Spanish Conquest. The Colonial period lasted for a
decade almost, which during which the Mesoamericans had to go through enormous struggle to
gain independence.

3
MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATION
The archaeologists and anthropologists use the term Mesoamerica for making distinction
about its culture and civilization from others. It is also effective for the visitors to learn about
Mexico and the development of ancient civilizations. People are familiar with the popular
civilizations, namely Aztecs and Maya but there are other civilizations too in the region which
also come under Mesoamerican Civilizations.

4
MESOAMERICAN CIVILIZATION
References
Carmack, R. M., Gasco, J. L., & Gossen, G. H. (Eds.). (2016). The legacy of Mesoamerica:
history and culture of a Native American civilization. Routledge.
Coe, M. D. (2017). America's first civilization. New Word City.
Faust, K. A., & Richter, K. N. (Eds.). (2015). The Huasteca: Culture, History, and Interregional
Exchange. University of Oklahoma Press.
Ganeri, A. (2016). Mesoamerican Myth: A Treasury of Central American Legends, Art, and
History: A Treasury of Central American Legends, Art, and History. Routledge.