Lecture 4. Teotihuacan: Identity and the State

After introducing Mesoamerica, the focus turns to Teotihuacan, which between 100 BCE-700 CE was a magnet for population in the Valley of Mexico and a locus of trade and agriculture. It included private and public spaces, the latter with plazas, pyramids and temples. The central patios in lineage-based apartment compounds contained ancestral burials and communal space for domestic activities. Those sited along the main avenue enabled observation and participation in political-ritual events. There is evidence for elite and commoner residences, and those occupied by outside groups from elsewhere in Mesoamerica.


supporting documents:

Handout

Quiz with Answers