ANT 3136 Exam 3 Notes

Techinantitla

- one of the elite "neighborhoods" in Teotihuacan -It it theorized that these glyph compounds are either names or titles of the individuals.

Ceren

-1st village occupied after eruption of Llopango -abandoned in 590 AD after eruption of small volcano, preserved city like Pompeii without the bodies. -modest place

Teotihuacan and the Bajio and Northwestern Frontier

-200 AD and 400 first villages settled along the Sierra Madre Occidental. -Chalchihuitl became the name for semi precious green stone

The Late Classic and Epiclassic In the West

-600-1000/1100 AD -TEO had been attacked at its ceremonial center -Late Classic Period >>northern yucatecan region >>Coba, uxmal, Chichen Itza. -Chichen Itza >>hybrid of old maya and new >>pan meso belief system >>influences all over -many associated with the feathered serpent -52 year calendar round popular -architecture form colonnaded halls and decorative friezes with human sacrafice and warfare imagery -Chacmool sacrificial altar, new structural form -tzompantli skull rack demonstrates that human sacrifice had become an important part of ritual -Militarism >>trend towards occupational specialization >> Eagle Knights and Jaguar Knights = warrior societies who were trained and combat ready who shared insignia and uniforms. >> Shows emphasis on military >>Cacaxtla and Xochicalco have murals showing the importance of the military -Trade and Merchants, Tributes and Lords >>Trade contacts reached the northern arid zones, and the north west coast of south america >>central highlands produce obsidian >>Tierra Caliente = cotton and cocoa >>Aztec Pochteca Merchants = controlled long distance trade >>tribute bundles on maya vase paintings >>Late Classic Xchicalo figures and glyphs on the pyramid of the plumed serpents show tribute from sucessful warfare. -Migrations >>late postclassic migration >>Coyotlatelco settled in central highlands after 600 AD. >>Olmeca-Xicalanca and Totlteca-Chichimeca >>Maya Huastecs -Feathered serpent cult >>may have been welcomed due to cultural fatigue >>strong connection with militarism >>human sacrifice emphasis iconography shown in many sites >>human sacrifice served the elites as a scare tactic in militarism. -Calendrics >>special skills of rulers >>Long count = classic maya and fell into disuse >>maya dates changed to short count (256 years) >>52 year calendar was in use, combined 260 day divinatory calendar with the 365 day vague calendar -Which came first? >>direction and diffusion is not yet clear -Chula perhaps most important site in postclassic mesoamerican that was associated with feathered serpent cult >>also, Xochicalco, cacaxtla, and El Tajin rose to power with associations to the feathered serpent cult

Northwestern Frontier

-Alta Vista and La Quemada were colonial centers >>foreign influences >>Alta Vista (400-850 AD) >>Quemada (500-900 AD) (center of road system, only about 500 residents, shows dependence on local materials such as obsidian) >>Colonnaded halls were important >>alot of skeletal remains >>maguey sap farming -trading gateway to the emerging hohokam cultures -Chalchihuites culture of Alta Vista -stones such as hematite, cinnabar, and greenstones -Alta Vista and Skull racks >>skull rack = tzompantli >>used for the remains of sacrificial victims >>Cerro De Huistle (skull racks had associated bones that were almost entirely from adult males) >>Chichen Itza had large skull rack

Calakmul in its Prime, Tikal Split in Two

-Calakmul peak 7th century -probably largest classic maya site -more in scripted monuments than anyother maya site, but unfortunately were carved into poor quality limestone -Tikal had problems maintaing dynastic succesions around 600 AD and were worsened by attacks from calakmul -two kings were claiming to have the right lineage

Tikal as an Early Classic Maya Center

-Celebrating katun ending 376 AD Tikals King Chak Tok Ichaak I must have enjoyed his position as ruler of a large kingdom in he maya lowlands. >>disappeared 2 years later. >>Yax Nuun Ayiin came next >>Yax sponsored by westerner Siyaji Kak -Talud Tablero style was introduced to Tikal in restricted contexts -some residential houses built in central mexican design -TEO influence became swamped by maya culture over time -Early classic shows TEO influence. -Late Classic maya kings were using motifs derived from TEO as a way of demonstrating their preferential familiarity with ancient and highly valued symbols of power. -ajaws = rulers -kaloomte = most powerful lords -no classic maya capital forged an empire, but 6th century tikal and calakmul most powerful centers and other were drawn into their sphere of influence. -Uaxactun >>north of tikal >>founded at same time, formative period. >>already had monumental architecture. >>had problems dealing with external forces possibly from TEO -Tikal and Uaxactun both experienced middle classic decline.

South central gulf lowlands

-Cerrps De Las Mesas final period of occupation in late classic >>cotton >>woven clothes in the late post classic called "mantas" -cotton only thing widely produced >>cultivated in tierra caliente >>extensively traded >>classic period technology of spinning >>mold made whorl pg 376 >>potsherds in circles pg 376

Tula Region

-Coyotlatelco people moving to Tula region late classic , distinguishable from TEO settlements -Tula Chico (COYO site) >>dates from prado and corral phases 700AD - 900AD -The Bajio >>Acambaro >>hilltop centers >>red on buff pottery >houses may show control for erosion >>pulque = fermented sap

The Apartment Compounds: Social Strata Within and Among the Residences (277)

-Early Classic Teotihuacan was purest form of social stratification -contrast between rich and poor etched over large population -many gradations of wealth - Barrios = Neighborhoods -Principal wives high in status -elite military, priests, eliteartisans, and traders of elite goods came next in line of importance.

Maya in the Early Classic

-Early classic (250-600 AD) -major cultural florescence -erected monuments dated with their long count system -Cessation of dates around 900 AD signaled a dramatic collapse of traditions of rulership and its culture attributes. -Late and Terminal Formative period sites, El Mirador and Nakbe. -it is assumed that by 1st century AD Maya had hereditary kings ruling over domains centered upon their capitals. - Maya kings belonged to the traditions of shamans and power holders which secured the support of their people. -kings assured the people with sacrifices and offerings that cycles of time (seasons) would continue and produce harvest. -Cenotes = water filled sink holes - cenotes of sacrifice in Chichen Itza have been explored, they found deposited offerings. >>deposited in postclassic period. -Kings were sacrificed by kinds if captured in battle -kings received spiritual names for their role as shaman, and so powerful that they needed to bring in the help of their spiritual alter egos. - way = tradition of spiritual companionship -Classic period kings went to great length to document their genealogy, and to erect monuments to their ancestors. -mayan rulers, especially dead ones, were thought of as deities -Aztecs saw 9 levels of the underworld and 13 levels of the upperworld. Earth is the first of each level. (pg 298). -axis mundi was sacred, center portion.

North Central Gulf Lowlands and El Tajin

-El Tajin controlled most of the north central gulf lands -great alluvial >>ideal for cotton and cocoa -first occupied in late or terminal formative period -achieved greatness late classic and epicalssic >>population 20,000 >>step fret motif >>"flying cornice" as adornment of talud tablero fascades -dozens of ball courts -pulque 377 (maguey beer) -upper level is Tajin Chico >>monumental structures >>decorated with Eagle Knight -Yohualinchan was a secondary center -sierra madre -Paxil and Aparicio -las higueras >>famous for its murals involving warriors, diety impersonators as well as rulers. -Santa luisa came under Tajin's control but was abandoned when Tajin declined

AD 800-900

-End of Yax Pasaj's rule fades -last ruler of copan in 822 -caracol last glyph was dated 859 AD -good land near acropolis -drainage of copan river

Alta Vista and Cerro Moctehuma

-Established in the Early Classic period -owe much to Teotihuacan

West Mexico page 371

-Guachimonton -Guadalajara, second largest city in mexico was Atemajac Valley -El Grillo and Ixtepete show influence from the Bajio, featurews related to COYO culture -Atemajac phase dates 750-900 AD -la campana monumental rectilinear architecture similar to that found in sites elsewhere in mesoamerica -Metal working >>600AD-800 AD metal products begin to disseminate over mesoamerica an up into the northern arid zone

Maya Highlands

-Kaminaljuyu = largest site for guatemala highlands >>Aurora Phase 200-400 AD >>>>Teo influence >>Esperanza Phase 400-550 AD >>>>More TEO influence >>talud tablero >>classic period, maya and TEO influence

Guatemala highlands and chiapas interior plateau

-Kaminaljuyu remained substantial site even after TEO's decline. >>fell in late classic -populations in flux in late classic

The Lowland Maya: Apogee and Collapse (600AD -900AD)

-Late classic maya lowlands dominate history -southern lowlands popular for their art and architecture, and also for the sudden fall of their civilization. ("The Maya Collapse") >>Elite life disintegrated i the 9th century >>Maya collapse in southern lowlands unexplained, but they think it was caused by overpopulation and not enough food -Maya culture continued to live outside southern lowlands -Late Classic saw the development of refined architectural styles in rio bec and chenes regions just north of the peten. -Chichen Itza already thriving -surge in migration of nahua speaking people (pipil people). they established a strong presence in Early Postclassic period -Copan has "spectacular remains" of maya culture

Yaxachilan

-Leaders read the interplay between landscape and astronomy. -early classic history obscured by late classic period development. -indications that Yopaat Balam I was founder in 359 -alliances to Piedras Negras, bonampak, tikal and calakmul. -rich in inscriptions even in the early classic period.

Teotihuacan: Pyramids and Palaces (pg. 269)

-Massive in 300 AD -leadership traditions can only be speculated -maintained strong ties with other centers, might have even established colonies -traded goods, ideas, ritual concepts

Teotihuacan Writing System

-Mayan and Zaptoec texts have been found there, but they never developed their own textual writing system. -iconography

Michoacan, Guerrero, Morelos

-Michoacan >>TEO influence less ambiguous -Early classic period brought new type of site, ceremonial centers, which appeared at El Otero, Tres Cerritos, and Tingambato. These all show TEO influence. >>Thing orange pottery >>ball courts >>Talud Tablero Style architecture -Guerrero >>shows widespread interaction with Oaxaca and TEO >>Talud Tablero Style >>Thin orange pottery >>Zapotec iconography >>exported to TEO >>Mezcala Balsas Region is best documented region -Morelos >>west and east morelos >>strong hierarchal order

Oaxaca

-Monte Alban III AD 200 to 700 represents major florescence of Zapotec Civilization -Jose Mogote central place for its local region -Jalieza had over 10,000 people

Mixtec Regions and Oaxaca

-Monte Alban in decline -famed in the postclassic period -historic codices in mixtec script recounted events and happenings of important people -Oaxaca and Monte Alban >>late classic increase in monte alban >>750 monte alban buildings crumbling >>Monte Alban IIIb the era of the largest decline (500-700 AD) >>zaptoc people had god, but there was no imagery >>wind, clouds, hail and rain >>feathered serpent absent from monte albans classic period iconography >>Jalieza became largest community in Monte Alban IV (700-1000 AD). Population 16,000. Declined in postclassic -Lambityeco >>another zapotec cty state >>grew as monte alban collapsing >>4,000 in 800 AD. >>town ruler coqui >>chief priest bigana >>Lord 8 death adn Lady 5 Reed page 385 >>florescence ended after 800 AD -Tehuatepec Region >>late classic >>Largest community Saltillo, shared traits of the ball game cult

Palenque and Pakal the Great

-Muwaan Mat ruler 612 >>may have been mother of Kinich Janaab Pakal I -pakals rooms and courtyards in the palace created administrative residences at the central part of the site. -strongly associated with his own funerary monument "the temple of inscriptions" -Pakals reign was Palenques time of greatness -abandoned after 800AD

Teotihuacan Palaces and Rulership

-Oldest district was in northern section >>Xalla compound terminal formative -political administration may have shifted south with feathered serpent temple >>symbols of water and militarism >>stones scattered maybe due to vandals angered by practices of the cult of the feathered serpent. Others suggest might have been due to earthquake. >> damaged fascade covered by adosada building, may have duplicated pyramid murals.

Puebla and Tlaxcala

-Palo Blanco Phase (200 bc to 700 AD) >> Tehuacan valley influenced by Mixteca Alta and Monte Alban -Chola dominated Puebla and Tlaxcala in Early Classic -pyramids in general were effigy mounds -Chola would become one of the great cities of the central high lands in late and post classic >>Chola was a city that impressed Cortes and kept him going to TEO >>Chola population early classic 15,000 -Great Pyramid of Chola (pg 294) -Thin orange pottery rare at Chola -Pulque, beer made from agave sap -Chola in decline during Early Classic >>maybe due to environmental issues

Basin of Mexico and Regions to its North and West

-San Juan Teo -settlement pattern in basin of mexico simplified -Cerro Portezuelo occupied early classic to the late post classic (widespread house mounds) -azcapotzalco destined to become great city in the late classic times.

500 AD

-Teotihuacan was most powerful and influential -extended west to toluca and northwest to Tola (pg. 274)

West Mexico

-Terminal Formative -Teuchitlan tradition developing unique form of architecture >>reach greatest complexity between 200 and 700 AD -Achualulco = situated above a marshy lake area where chinampa agriculture was practiced and it possessed important obsidian resources.

Kings of Calendrics: Time and Early Classic Maya Rulers.

-Tikal Site >>King Yax Ehb Xook estimated the dynasty was established in 1st century AD. -dynasties patrilineal -woman ruler in Tikal 10th baktun ( 400 year cycle -turn of a katun was celebrated with ceremonies and monuments -long count calendar used with the 260 day divination calendar and the vague 365 day solar year. (pg 302).

AD 700-800

-Tikal revitalized by victory over calakmul in 695 -king of dos pilas was driven out by vassal site tamarandito -pasion river was a trade center between guatemala highlands an petexbatun -Bird Jaguar IV page 345 -Palenque was Tikals ally. Palenque troubled by rival tonina -Reign of Waxaklajuun in Copan >>great artistic achievement >>700AD >>sophisticated stelae

How the End Began

-Upheaval began in 500 AD -buildings along street of the dead torched -Teotihuacan became deserted -People started settling outside of Teotihuacan in the basin of mexico in late classic period -new cities grew powerful (Tula, Cholula, xochucalco, El Tajin.) -at the end of the classic period, Teotihucan was villages around city center which remained populated despite the destruction

Maya Lowland

-Yucatan Peninsula -vegetation varies -dry in the north, wet in the south -northern lowlands, early classic sites Izamal and Chunchucmil. -Northern Yucatan was cultural focus of the lowland maya as the late classic period ended. -Maya classic period is dominated by southern lowlands. >>southern lowland capitals Tikal and Calakmul in early and classic.

The evolution of Teotihuacan's Plan

-achieved greatest spatial extent in early classic -vast urban redevelopment -housing of 60-100 people -street of the dead -windowless apartment compounds -courtyards in compounds centered on altars -gridded patterns -went from modest capital in late formative to a massive one in terminal formative -heart of old city might have been in oztozyahualco area -pyramid of the sun and moon (residence, tomb, and effigy to sun and storm gods) -TEO II developmental stage (150 AD to 300 AD) >>Temple of feathered serpent >>canalized San Juan river zig zags -TEO III developmental stage (300 AD to 550 AD) >>golden age >>administration might have been centered on the street of the dead complex

Teotihuacan compound

-agriculture and craft production -construction based on the size and growth of the city -compounds included workshops -each probably produced their own specific goods to trade -obsidian traded as well as textiles and ceramics

Southwestern Meso and the Intermediate Area

-appetites for exotic materials motivated trade -Travesia site 357 -La Sierra

Late Classic Maya Culture

-biggest pyramids topped with sanctified temples. -maya regal ritual centers -political alliance and conflict translated by epigraphers -900 AD vain quarrels vanished into the ever encroaching past -600 AD maya followed actions with feelings of triumph or despair depending on their loyalties and welcome the outcome -loss of power by the maya rulers was evident in many centers >>decision making was shared and revenue responsibility between royals and non royal nobles. -decline seen in the quality of monumental art and architecture, shows a lack of elite power

Coyotlatelco Pottery and Culture

-buff colored vessels with red designs -Temascal sweat baths -farm plots -house mounds -Chichimecs >> otomi adn nahua speaking people >>amorphous >>"people of dog lineage" >>post classic groups forged strong confederations in the basin of mexico merging with the toltecs. >>reputation for hardiness and aggression that nicely complemented the toltecs with whom they became linked as one of the important cultures moving over the epiclassic landscapes

Intermediate Area

-caribbean lowlands never supported dense population -small chiefdoms -egalitarian tribes

Maya Kings

-center of courts -people of the court served as ritual specialists, elite artisans, and bureacrats, directing and putting into effect policies on taxation, warfare, etc. -factions of the court competed amongst themselves for the rulers attention and favors -competition with the king in tikal

Vectors of Change: chichen itza and the Putun maya

-chichen is most notable fusion site -coexistence of two important cultural elements: Toltec and maya

Mod 8 Mini Lecture

-classic maya collapse -terminal classic -9th and 10th century collapse -50-100 years to collapse -reduction of large scale construction -failure of elite class -790-909 last dates on monuments -drought hypothesis getting popular -most popular hypothesis..... >>ecological collapse >>catastrophism >>disease and demography >>social structure >>external invasion >>internal warfare -Mega droughts >>thin soils >>yucatecan Lake sediment cores >>200 year drought -Machaquila, Guatemala >>stelaes decrease in elaboration >>no longer great care >>helps show us the decline in maya culture -seibal, Guatemala >>second peak 830-890 AD >>dates unusually late -structure A3 >>850 AD >> 4 stairways >>5 Stelae >>built by Watul Chatel -architecture show connections with other civilizations, maya and foreign styles. -Ultimate causes, multiple reason. Affected different regions differently

Northeaster Yucatan:Coba and its Regions

-classic period sites have ties with Peten Maya -Coba inserted itself as regional capital -chichen emerging great power in terminal classic -Coba >>nice contrast from Uxmal >>causeways in all directions >> had ties to dos pikas and naranjo in AD 682 >> dispersal of major ceremonial precincts ---> surrounded by residential areas >> 55,000 people in terminal classic >> causeways attempt to consolidate a large territory. >>causeway from cobs to Yamuna is largest in mesoamerica

The Pacific Coast

-coast of guatemala enjoyed a late classic boom -Cotzumalhuapa culture -Plumbate was probably most widely traded ware in pre columbian mesoamerica.

Teo's important partners south of the isthmus

-comtemporarties Monte Alban and cholula

Causes of Collapse at Copan and Elsewhere

-copan few signs of conflicts -no signs of disease epidemics -no evidence of foreign invasions -overpopulation caused decline

Ball Courts and the Ball Game

-dates from late archaic -tlachtli and ulama page 401 -yugos -hachas -palmas -ritual when building ball court -fertility and sacrificial themes

Maya Collapse and Survival (800-1200 AD)

-defensive walls common theme -Chilam Balam pg 388

Oaxaca and Teotihuacan Literacy

-developed abstract systems of notation, including writing -evidence of these scripts at Teotihuacan -Teotihuacan used bar and dot system for numbers -had extended systems of glyphs that must be looked at contextually

Mayan Hieroglyphics Mini Lecture

-earliest inscriptions found in San Bartolo, Gautemala. -first to invent concept of zero -used glyphs to record history, so many were matched to calendar. -calendar started in 3114. -events divided by 20 years -long count calendar cyclical, it was a circle -at spanish contact only a few could read -once circle ends, it starts again -glyphs tell us about historic figures and events -historic relationships -emblem glyphs =political identity -diego delanda alphabet -Heinrich berlin, emblem glyphs. >>noticed they had larger main sign and 2 smaller -emblem gylphs point to specific sites - T. Proskouriakoff drew glyphs at Piedras Negras >>identified birth (frog) and ascension (tooth ache) glyphs -read glpyhs in paired columns >>A1 B1, A2 B2, so on... -syllabary -logograms -bar and dot system for math (one dot means 1 one bar means 5)

Teotihuacan Mini Lecture

-early history mysterious -200 bc earliest buildings -150-450 AD Zenith -530 AD Decline, 650 downtown burned (elite) -Major droughts in 535 AD -Epicenter is "avenue of the dead" (pyramids) -shows city planning -Pyramid of the moon (northern end, second largest building, tunnels under, 6 renovations, artifacts for beginning of teotihucan, completed 150-200 AD) -Pyramid of the Sun (Largest building, constructed in 2 phases, completed 225 BC, caves and tunnels underneath) -Talud Tablero (form of architecture, style consists of platform with sloping panel, strongly associated with Teotihucan) -population 125,000 to 200,000 people at height 500 AD -8-55 square miles of settlement -apartment compounds (1st built 250 AD as suggested by Rene Millon, 2000 by 600 AD, closer to avenue of the dead meant you had more wealth, housed 60-100 people) -Ciudadela (where rulers lived, temple of feather serpent) -Temple of feathered serpent (3rd largest, multiple step level, completed 200 AD, decorated with two creatures Quetzacoatal and Tlaloc) -Sacrificed warriors (under temple of feathered serpent,200 victims, jaw necklaces, bound arms, men and women, male out number females, high status grave goods, honorable sacrifice)

Palenque

-esablished 200 ad -on a range of mountains -travel routes along rivers = resources -dynasty established 431 AD by a lord from a unknown center. One inscription mentioned Siyaj Kak -fragmentory records of early classic palenque indicate short reigns from 5th century on. -Lady yohl Iknal from 583-604 AD. >>one of few women to hold power in her own right, she was not a regent. >>her reign was a troubled one. -599 palenque assaulted, then again in 611. -after 612 line of succession breaks down. Architecture and monuments reached great heights under leadership of late classic period king Kinich Janaab Pakal I

Calakmul and the Northern Lowlands

-established overlord relation with other capitals. -knowledge of early classic in northernlowlands is very incomplete, few maya texts -calakmul largest classic maya center -monumental architecture and site plans largely represent late classic construction. -naturalistic murals of everyday life in early classic complex -established in the formative period in 1st century AD -knowledge of dynasties limited to the 6th century and later -aggression towards Tikal drove their own decline

Eastern Puebla

-famous for agricultural productivity -cantona >>One of late classics largest cities >>height in late classic and epiclassic >>abandoned after 1050 AD >>circulation was strained as well as access to ceremonial courtyards >>unusual patterns of culture >>almost total absence of thin orange >>abundance of pottery >>phallus shaped stones >>obsidian >>Oyameles-Zaragoza sources of obsidian

Northwester yucatan : Puuc region

-famous for underground water storage cisterns called Chultunes -water god (Chac, Chaac, or Chak) on monumental architecture -establishment of puuc region poorly recorded, cannot pin point time. -area settled formative period and architecture is known 700 ad - 800 ad at Edzna and Oxkintoc -Puuc sites share the cultural heritage of Peten Maya people -defensive walls show political turmoil in the south -best known sites are Kabah, Sayil and Labna flourishing from 800-100 AD

What happened in the classic (pg.268)

-flourishing cities and ceremonial centers -true states and vast territories -some of the most important sites have their florescence during the classic period (Teotihuacan, Cholula, Ek Tajin, Monte Alban, Palenque, Tikal, Copan) -high degree of complexity -Teotihuacan population 50,000 people

What was the feathered serpent (pg 364)

-formative period on -symbol of fertility and wealth -Quetzalcoatl was credited with being one of the creators of human kind -deity of the morning star (Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli)

Obsidian

-gray and black from Otumba -Green obsidian from pachua

Yaxchilan

-growth in part caused the decline of Palenque and Piedras Negras -Itzamnaaj Balam II began a 60 year reign >>prosperity >>military victories >>3 wives >>temple 23

Gulf central lowlands

-important during late classic and epiclassic meso america -cultural poles of chichen and tula >>shared traits -imposing center El Tajin >>masterwork of architecture >>dazzling art -aztecs loved swamp for cultivating food >>cococa, vanilla, cotton -death cult of Michtlantecuhtli >>skeletal lord sits on throne at El Zapotal near Cerro De Las Mesas

Elsewhere among the Maya

-knowledge of culture outside the peten is much less complete because the writing systems are not consistent -largest Puuc region Uxmal and others Chichen Itza and Coba -Early Postclassic seems to have brought militaristic intrusion -northern sites show interaction with TEO -Palace of Stuccoes

What caused the uprising?

-lack of resources -Lower class compound Tajinga 33 studied for the effects of disease and nutrition stress on development of bone and teeth. They found that they were lacking in nutrition and there was a lot of disease. -erosion in the middle and upper valley causing trouble as well as deforestation

Mixteca, Oaxaca

-localized city states -never completely dominated by city states -never conquered by outsiders -Monte Negro abandoned early classic period -thin orange pottery -pottery may indicate that they were trading with TEO -formative part of the site on alluvial plain

The Peten Region and Maya Politics

-lowlands, usumacinta river -peten has subregion which is the petexbatun area -peten region regarded as the heartland of classic maya culture >>intense tradition of maya inscription -Tzakol culture = early classic culture in peten -early classic rulers jostled for power with alliances and creating enemies. -royals and elites sent out far and wide for marriages and alliances >>these patterns documented best in the late classic, but origins in early classic. >>these patterns documented on stelae and vases and wall paintings and bas reliefs -system of allied sites, centered on capitals Tikal and Calakmul from early classic until probably the late formative period.

Long Shadow of TEO

-matacapan colony of TEO's -Recognize TEO influence through material goods such as jaguar pelts

Quetzalpapaltol compound

-may have housed priests, near Pyramid of the moon.

Courtly Life at the Height of the Late Classic

-maya recorded life as a series of ceremonies -late classic maya fiercely competitive -parallels in courtly life and agrarian life -distinctions between servants and kings showed social strata >>important indication of societal complexity -would have gotten basic living from the surpluses of peasants, which were still considered property of the elite.

Titled officials, wealthy land owners, and elite artisans

-members of court -specialists in creating monumental architecture -sons of the king who did not become ruler became prestigious artisans and administrators of the realm -farming families would be drafted for work on construction of monuments

Chichen Itza

-motivated by commercial interest -850-1150 -near abandonment 1150 AD -reoccupation in Late post Classic -buildings probably dater from puuc florescence -The Castillo >>four staircased pyramid >>north terrace >>page 399 >>feathered serpent -GReat Ball Court >>west of castilla = largest ball court

Elsewhere in Southeastern Mesoamerica

-pg 320

Royal Women

-politically and economically important -secured alliances -legitimized or energized a lineage fallen on hard times. >>Princess of Palenque at copan -we lack evidence that maya nobles were polygynous >>common in mesoramerica >>lucrative, as women made goods like textiles -late classic royal wives noted more often in texts

The Gods Must Be Angry: The Southern Coast and the Eruption of Llopango

-refugees fleeing from eruption of Llopango in early 5th century to Copan. -eruption means gods are angry

Putun, chontal, it's: traders along the gulf coast

-religion migration to spread culture, but more likely would be military and securing trade routes. -vanguard merchants were long distance pochteca traders who penetrated areas outside their empire. -merchants from early post classic in gulf lowlands -Xicalanco and Champoton were champions of their ports -Chontalpa maya dialect spoken in palenque -late postclassic trade all among the coast of the yucatan -Chontalpa traders page 397

Northern Gulf Lowlands: The Huasteca

-residential spaces circular, an unusual meso trait, except for the Teuchitlan tradition of west mexico. -Metztitlan Valley page 373 -During classic period we see growing importance of the Huastecs >>maya speaking people that moved to the region in the formative period -Tamuin and Tamtok two major sites in post classic period

Maya of the Southerns Lowlands

-rivalry between Tikal and Calakmul -rivalry between Piedras Negras and Yaxchilan -Late Classic -7th century calakmul attached tikal and palenque. 7th century ended with decline of calakmul itself.

Morelos

-signs of power vacuum in late classic -decline in population in the east -small village developed here -circular pyramid and ball court -Xochicalo >>flourished 650-900 ad >>feathered serpent imagery in late classic >>symbol of elite >>obsidian imported page 382 >>12 obsidian worksites found >>around 900 AD met a violent end by destruction of the ceremonial center

Kabah, Sayil, Labna

-sites form a line -comtemporaneous with Uxmal -Sayil dense population >>causeway dates 600-800 AD -Uxmal >>sacbeob (causeways) >>Lord Chac, greatest king, lived around 900 AD, some of greatest monuments built during his reign >>Nunnery Quadrangle and Palace of Govenors, North Group and Cemetery Group --->represent multepal style architecture >>palace of govenors ---> elite admin building and residential building --->"range structure" pg 391 --->no definite evidence that the building housed royal people >>Nunnery Quadrangle ---> four range structures ---> cloister style space --->north building represents the cosmos ---> 13 doorways = 13 heavens ---> North building may also have been quarters for elites >>Pyramid of the Magician ---> elliptical pyramid --->tale that it was built in one night --->chenes style beginnings >>decline of puuc sites --->Uxmal decline 925 AD ---> others assumed Uxmal decline in 925 AD

Isthmus, coastal plain, chiapas, and guatemala highlands

-soconusco and south Pacific coast long time trade route -back water for early settlements in the early classic period -thriving mize zoque culture in east -no TEO influence in the east -pacific coast had no civil centers -Takalik and Izapa important centers -pacific coast had valuables like cocao and thrived -balberta pg 321

Gulf Lowlands

-source of tropical goods like cocao and cotton -highest concentration of circular buildings, but they are rare in central highlands -North Central Gulf Lowlands dominated by El Pital >>canal system at Santa Luisa >>Early classic saw Santa Luisa in decline and El Pital nearly abandoned -South central gulf lowlands >>classic period brought elaborate craft adn architectural tradtions >>pottery styles are highly varied, little evidence of Thin Orange style >> region capital in Mixtequila region was probably Cerro De Las Mesas -Major site in South Central gulf lowlands was Remojadas because it yielded many distinctive figurines -Matacapan >>rose in early formative >>TEO related trading center in later early classic >>may have been a colony >>traits of migration from TEO >>decline in late classic

Maya of the Motagua: Copan and Quirigua

-strong examples of culture in the southeastern end -influenced Tikal and Palenque -dynasties seem to have been established in 426 AD at a ceremony involving founders Kinich Yax Kuk Mo of Copan and Tok Casper of Quirigua. -Quirigua location at motagua river made it an ideal trading post. -Kinich Yax Kuk Mo not local -round goggles = prestigious past -red used in burial to simulate warm look of flesh -TEO influences -Copan second ruler Popol Hol

Classic period in Mesoamerica

-time of florescence of maya centers -dates of monumental stelae at maya sites 250/300 ad to 900 ad -Maya golden age -subdivides to early and late periods -protoclassic= age right before classic period -middle classic= 500-700 ad -epiclassic=800-1000 ad

Western Puebla, Tlaxacal and Morelos

-volcanic eruptions popocatelpetl in 650 ad -olmeca/xicalanca in puebla >>best known of ethnic groups >>may have been responsible for decline in the fortunes of cholula >>Cholulans sought haven in Cerro Zapotecas >>cacaxtla may have been responsible for the violence following the cholulans ------>established after 600 AD and was occupied until 900 AD ------> Fortified and had moats -------> population 10,000 -------> great murals, rendered maya style, depicts military scenes showing the maya being bested ------> Cacaxtli in Nahuatl >>Cholula became most important center of Ehecatl-Quetzalcoatl worship in postclassic period ---->decline from 650-850 AD ---->Patio of alters showing design motifs similar to Tajin

Sacred Cenote

-well of sacrifice page 404

The Usumacinta Region

-western highlands of guatemala -trails near rivers are routes -avenue of trade through Palenque, Pomona, Piedras, Negras, Yaxchilan, Lacanha, and Bonampak -sites like Tonina interacted most frequently with Usumacinta site -sites interacting with, page 310.

Teotihuacan and its international influence

AD 250/300-600

Maya Tikal

Teotihuacans interfered heavily in politics

Plaza de los Glifos in La Ventilla neighborhood of Teotihuacan

The most clearly defined examples of Teotihuacano writing

Candeleros

ceramic vessels for holding candels

San Martin

ceramics production as well as Tlajinga

Murals of costumed individuals

fail to show individuality

The La Ventilla glyphs

interesting because they are devoid of accompanying paintings and are pure text

Temple of warriors, court of 1,000 columns, mercado

page 404

the caracol

page 405

Southern pacific coast and southeastern mesoamerica

page 406

inventing the wheel in the service of the gods

page 407 wheeled animals

toponyms

place names