What is known about the Mesoamerican civilization: 7 historical facts discovered by modern scientists

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Mesoamerican civilization has experienced the rise and fall of various cultures. And when it comes to speech, there are many topics for discussion, since it contains a huge amount of knowledge gained from the cultures that inhabited this mythical zone. And Mesoamerica also had its own identity, which was defined by a number of very specific characteristics, described below.

1. Hieroglyphic writing

The writing system used by the Mesoamericans was very similar to that of other ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians. They used it to preserve knowledge such as the memories of their rulers and gods, time cycles, and prominent historical events.

These hieroglyphs represented an idea, a concept, or even a number, thus constituting a complex writing system. The repertoire at their disposal included a wide range of ideograms that expressed what was happening in their lives. The hieroglyphs used by these cultures were written on materials such as stone, cloth, wood, bone, and ceramics.

No one knows exactly when the writing of Mesoamerican civilization began. But some of the evidence unearthed by archaeologists holds several keys to understanding and unraveling this mystery. The Cascajal Block has one such key, as it was discovered at Cascajal, in the state of Veracruz in Mexico. This block seems to indicate that the Olmecs were the first to use writing around 1200 BC.

Examples of this letter include the "pilgrimage strip" of the Mexicans, which recounts their pilgrimage from Aztlan to the creation of Tenochtitlan. The “hieroglyphic staircase” at Copan's site in Honduras is another example, as it lists all the rulers who were responsible for this staircase.

2. Polytheistic religion in Mesoamerica

The cultures that lived in Mesoamerica had a complex belief system that included elements of nature such as earth, air, and fire. Astral aspects such as the sun, constellations and stars were another common element used by them. Images in sculptures with animal and anthropomorphic shapes, as well as the shapes of familiar objects such as braziers or molcajetes, were also used by most Mesoamerican civilizations.

The Mesoamerican pantheon included a number of deities worshiped throughout Mesoamerica. The recorded texts also show the existence of a worldview shared by all cultures, which included a sequence of eras and spatial symbols such as cosmic trees, birds, colors and deities.

Another almost common element for all civilizations of Mesoamerica was the pyramids. These megalithic structures played a key role in Mesoamerican religion, as they represented a symbolic form of approaching the heavens and their deities.

Studies of pyramids excavated in Mesoamerica show that they were often rebuilt, reshaped and expanded. Apparently, they all followed a pattern that consisted of ceremonies associated with the death of a local leader, where the ascension of the successor was considered the main event due to which the subsequent architectural modification of these ceremonial buildings took place.

3. Agricultural machinery

Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Mesoamerican civilizations were able to master various agricultural techniques derived from the high knowledge of the land on which they worked. This created a surplus of food for them, which was often used as currency in their markets or in trading communities. On the other hand, agricultural implements were common throughout Mesoamerica because these implements of trade were made from simple materials such as flint, wood, or obsidian.

Archaeological finds indicate that they began their agricultural activities in the pre-reform period (7000). Among the tools they used were flint axes, a rudimentary hoe used for tillage, and small obsidian blades used to sharpen wood.

As for the grains that were planted by the Mesoamericans, they are corn, chili, beans and pumpkin. In terms of their eating habits, each culture had options on their daily menu, but they had many customs and characteristics in common. Some of them included a strict diet based on the grains they grew and vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, nopal (cactus), and avocado.

4. Monumental architecture in Mesoamerica

The architecture of Mesoamerican civilization is one of the most specific, as it has its own elements that are not repeated in any other culture in the world. These megalithic structures arose in response to the demographic boom that every city has had at some point in its history.

Some examples of this architecture can be seen in pyramids, temples, houses and ceremonial buildings. This was the result of an intense cultural exchange between the peoples inhabiting Mesoamerica.

It is believed to be one of the main aspects of this cultural space, as this exchange has continuously enriched the vision of architects and builders. It was not uncommon to see the influence of one cultural complex on another, as they constantly shared their knowledge. For example, scientists and historians easily draw a fine line of similarities between the architecture of Teotihuacan and some buildings of the Zapotec culture.

In this regard, the architectural features of their buildings were determined by mythological or religious meanings, and their designs were coordinated with astral events. In some cases, special lighting effects have been achieved that can still be appreciated at the equinoxes, solstices, or other important dates.

It is impressive that the Mesoamericans, lacking advanced technology, were able to carry out colossal architectural work. Such works include public squares, waterways, large residential buildings, pyramids, temples, and palaces throughout Mesoamerica. This was achieved with abundant working materials and materials such as limestone, adobe, wood and plant mixtures that served as cement.

5. State government organization

One of the most distinctive features of Mesoamerica is its state organization. It was an institution that managed to unite a divided territory with a population that shared traditions and a hierarchical political structure. At the head of this political structure was the supreme ruler, who in many cases was called a leader or military leader.

The first form of government for Mesoamerica was found in Olmec culture around 1200 BC. The creation of stable political organizations was a constant topic for the leaders of Mesoamerican civilization to fulfill their political or religious plans.

They were constantly looking for a way by which they could control a much larger number of people. This need to find a better way to lead large numbers of people was driven by the fact that cities grew rapidly and required special control.

Each culture had its own particular way of governing its people, but it was the same stratified system for everyone. In this system, the ruler was considered a god or a messenger from heaven, and people had to pay tribute to him. To do this, they brought him exotic gifts from distant countries, gave the best harvests or made human sacrifices in his honor.

6. Ancient calendar

For Mesoamerican civilizations, time was a sacred element, the creation of the gods, who also provided them with a calendar. For example, among the Mexicans Oxomoko and Zipactonal were those who created the calendar and gave it to mankind. This divine gift made it possible to record important moments in their history, daily life, ritual events and agricultural cycle for good harvests.

The Mesoamerican calendar is a combination of two calendars, a 365-day cycle called Syuhpohuali in Nahuatl, or the count of the year. Another is a 260-day cyclical calendar called Tonalpohualli in Nahuatl, or day counting.

Xiuhpohualli was the calendar used by the common people as it tracked the solar year and was associated with the cycles of the Sun, Moon and possibly the planet Venus. Tonalpohualli was a sacred calendar as it was used mainly by priests. Many researchers suggest that the Olmecs were the creators of the 260-day calendar.

Mesoamerican civilizations had extensive knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, and they used this knowledge to build observatories at archaeological sites such as Monte Alban or Chichen Itza. These observatories were used to study the motion of stars and the trajectories of planets. With the data obtained from these studies, they were able to make accurate calendar readings and write them on stone, ceramics or fabric. This knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation until today, where it was discovered by various researchers.

7. Trade

This activity can be considered the most important for all the empires and city-states that lived in Mesoamerica. With the help of war, they managed to expand their territory, form larger empires and obtain valuable resources. But trading activities contributed more in the long run and gave identity to these cultures because all cities practiced trading.

Mesoamerican civilizations had a wide variety of foods at their disposal. These products were used by citizens to trade in local markets, with neighboring cities, or with other civilizations.

The Tlatelolco market in Teotihuacan is a good example, as it was very large and filled with a variety of goods. Hernán Cortez was so impressed by its diversity that he argued that only a handful of cities in Europe could rival him.

Cultures were enriched by constant trade, a mixture of knowledge and social customs was created. This often led to the cultural development that modern man knows about today thanks to historians and archaeologists who recorded their findings associated with one of the most interesting civilizations.

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