Ancient Civilizations

By saramiranda.28
  • 500 BCE

    Zapotecs (c. 500 BCE):

    Zapotecs (c. 500 BCE):
    • Development of Monte Albán, one of the first complex cities.
    • Engaged in trade and had a polytheistic religion, with a strong emphasis on ancestor worship.
    • Mesoamerica.
  • 400 BCE

    Olmecs (c. 1200-400 BCE):

    Olmecs (c. 1200-400 BCE):
    • The Olmec were among the first Mesoamerican complex societies, and their culture influenced many later civilizations, like the May
    • Considered the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica, known for colossal heads.
  • 200 BCE

    Preclassic (2500 BCE - 200 CE

    Preclassic (2500 BCE - 200 CE
    The Preclassic period is the first of three periods in Mayan history, coming before the Classic and Postclassic periods.
  • 900

    Maya (c. 250-900 CE):

    Maya (c. 250-900 CE):
    Development in the southeast, with cities like Tikal and Palenque, known for advancements in mathematics and astronomy.
  • 900

    Classic (200 CE - 900 CE)

    Classic (200 CE - 900 CE)
    Artists, architechts, and musicians moved away from the heavily ornamented styles of the Baroque and the Rococo, and instead embraced a clean, uncluttered style they thought reminiscent of Classical Greece.
  • 900

    Teotihuacan (c. 100-650 CE):

    Teotihuacan (c. 100-650 CE):
    Monumental city with the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.
  • 1189

    Toltecs (c. 900-1200 CE)

    Toltecs (c. 900-1200 CE)
    Influence on culture and architecture, with Tula as their center.
  • 1521

    Postclassic (900 CE - 1521 CE)

    Postclassic (900 CE - 1521 CE)
    The Postclassic period was a time of technological advancement in areas of architecture, engineering, and weaponry. The Spanish conquest of the Maya began in the 16th century, but lasted close to 150 years. Mayan languages, agricultural practices, and familial cultures still exist in parts of Chiapas and Guatemala.
  • 1521

    Aztecs (1325-1521 CE)

    Aztecs (1325-1521 CE)
    • Nahuatl-speaking people
    • Foundation of Tenochtitlan and the expansion of a vast empire, rich in religious and cultural practices.

  • Colonial (1521 - 1821)

    Spanish colonization: A blend of Indigenous and Spanish cultures, introducing Christianity and new traditions. The ancient civilizations of Mexico lasted about 2500 years. Then, in
    the 15th Century, a group of Spanish explorers arrived in the newly
    discovered continent of America. They were under orders from the
    Spanish Crown to turn what is today’s Mexico territory into a Spanish
    colony.