Mesoamerica
Overview
Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area in North America, extending from approximately central Mexico through Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northern Costa Rica. It is one of the six areas in the world where ancient civilization arose independently, and its cultural, historical, and societal aspects have been studied extensively in the field of Mesoamerican studies.
Geography
The geography of Mesoamerica describes the geographic features of Mesoamerica, a region that extends from northern Mexico southwards into Central America. The region is characterized by its diverse landscapes, including high mountains, vast deserts, and dense jungles. This geographical diversity influenced the development and interaction of the various civilizations that arose in the region.
Pre-Columbian Era
The Pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continent. In Mesoamerica, the term "Pre-Columbian" is often used to refer to the cultures that existed before the arrival of the Spanish.
Olmec Civilization
The Olmec civilization is considered the first major civilization in Mesoamerica and had its cultural, religious, and political centers in what is now the southeastern Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. The Olmec civilization is often considered the "mother culture" of Mesoamerican civilizations.
Maya Civilization
The Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization developed by the Maya peoples. Noted for its hieroglyphic script, the only known fully developed writing system of the pre-Columbian Americas, the Maya civilization is also known for its art, architecture, mathematics, calendar, and astronomical system.
Aztec Civilization
The Aztec civilization was a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in central Mexico in the post-classic period from 1300 to 1521. The Aztec culture is generally grouped with the cultural complex known as the Nahuatl-speaking cultures, which includes the Toltec, Chichimec, and Teotihuacan.
Post-Columbian Era
The Post-Columbian era refers to the period following the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The Spanish conquest had a profound impact on Mesoamerica, leading to cultural, social, political, and environmental changes that continue to affect the region today.
Mesoamerican Languages
Mesoamerica is home to a diverse range of languages, many of which are descended from a common ancestral language known as Proto-Mesoamerican. The most widely spoken Mesoamerican languages today are Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, and K'iche'.
Mesoamerican Religion
Religion in Mesoamerica was a complex interplay of gods, rituals, and beliefs. The Mesoamerican pantheon was vast and varied, with gods representing various aspects of nature and human life. Religious practices included human sacrifice, the building of elaborate temples, and the observance of intricate rituals.
Mesoamerican Art
Mesoamerican art is the visual art produced by the peoples living in geographical Mesoamerica, from the Olmec civilization to the Post-Columbian era. The art of Mesoamerica is remarkably varied, reflecting the diversity of the cultures that produced it.