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Teotihuacan at Its Zenith

Type Event Region North America Time 501–550

In the 6th century the Mesoamerican city-state of Teotihuacan reached the peak of its population and political influence, becoming one of the largest…

Timeline

  1. 501–530Teotihuacan ceremonial avenue · State of MexicoArchaeological estimates put the city's population at over 100,000, while palace and temple precincts along the ceremonial avenue continued to expand. The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon formed the religious core of the city, and reliefs at the Temple of the Feathered Serpent along with greenstone masks from tombs reveal a highly centralized ritual authority and craft system.
  2. 520–550Valley of Mexico · MexicoTeotihuacan controlled settlements across the valley through trade in obsidian, greenstone, and pottery, and Teotihuacan-style tombs and artifacts have been found in Oaxaca, Guatemala, and elsewhere, showing that its cross-regional political and cultural penetration had reached its peak.
  3. 530–550Petén lowlands · GuatemalaTeotihuacan-style elements appear in pottery decoration, burial rituals, and political symbolism of Maya city-states such as Tikal and Calakmul, indicating the city's pivotal role in the Classic-period Mesoamerican cultural sphere, alongside contemporary rivalry among Maya city-states.

Sources