Ancient Teotihuacan: Early Urbanism in Central Mexico (Case Studies in Early Societies)

First comprehensive English-language book on the largest city in the Americas before the 1400s. Teotihuacan is a UNESCO world heritage site, located in highland central Mexico, about twenty-five miles from Mexico City, visited by millions of tourists every year. The book begins with Cuicuilco, a predecessor that arose around 400 BCE, then traces Teotihuacan from its founding in approximately 150 BCE to its collapse around 600 CE. It describes the city's immense pyramids and other elite structures. It also discusses the dwellings and daily lives of commoners, including men, women, and children, and the craft activities of artisans. George L. Cowgill discusses politics, economics, technology, art, religion, and possible reasons for Teotihuacan's rise and fall. Long before the Aztecs and 800 miles from Classic Maya centers, Teotihuacan was part of a broad Mesoamerican tradition but had a distinctive personality that invites comparison with other states and empires of the ancient world. • Intended for general readers as well as specialists • Brings to light a spectacular civilization that long preceded the Aztecs and was quite different from the better-known Maya • Up to date on the most recent finds, superseding and sometimes correcting early interpretations Half title 2 Case Studies in Early Societies 4 Title page 6 Imprints page 7 Contents 9 Figures 10 Tables 14 Boxes 15 Acknowledgments 16 1 Preliminaries 19 Pronunciations and Names 24 Theoretical Standpoint 25 Chronology 29 Some Terms Defined 36 Two False Issues 38 Better Questions 40 An Outline of Archaeological Research at Teotihuacan 41 The Teotihuacan Mapping Project 56 Organization and Scope of the Book 59 2 Situating Teotihuacan 61 Mesoamerica 62 The Central Highlands and the Basin of Mexico 65 The Teotihuacan Valley 69 3 Urbanism Begins in Central Mexico 79 Prelude 80 Cuicuilco and Its Neighbors, 500–100 BCE 84 The Tezoyuca Puzzle 93 Teotihuacan 96 Outside the Basin of Mexico 101 4 Teotihuacan Takes Off 105 Patlachique Phase Ceramics and Lithic Artifacts 113 Elsewhere in the Basin of Mexico 117 Teotihuacanâ€TMs More Distant Interactions 118 5 Teotihuacan Supremacy in the Basin of Mexico 119 The Sun Pyramid 122 The Moon Pyramid 132 The Pre-Ciudadela 133 Other Civic-Ceremonial Structures 137 Ceramics and Lithic Artifacts 140 The Early Teotihuacan Polity 144 Elsewhere in the Basin of Mexico 147 Teotihuacanâ€TMs Foreign Interactions 149 6 Great Pyramids and Early Grandeur 151 The Moon Pyramid 157 The Ciudadela Complex 173 The Feathered Serpent Pyramid 176 The “Plataforma Adosada” 193 The Ciudadela Platforms and the Great Plaza 195 Ciudadela Room Complexes: Palaces? 199 The Meaning of the Ciudadela 203 The Enclosure of the Artisans 204 The Great Compound 205 The Avenue of the Dead Complex 207 The Xalla Complex 211 Civic-Ceremonial Complexes within the Cityâ€TMs Core 212 Civic-Ceremonial Structures Outside the Core 217 The Río San Juan and the Río San Lorenzo 222 Commoners 225 Ceramics 231 The Sociopolitical System of Teotihuacan in Its Early Flowering 237 Elsewhere in the Basin of Mexico 240 Teotihuacanâ€TMs Interactions Outside the Basin of Mexico 242 7 Teotihuacan at Its Height 249 Population and Housing 251 The Ciudadela, the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, Its New Fore-Platform, and the Enclosure of the Artisans 256 The Avenue of the Dead Complex and Elsewhere in the Civic-Ceremonial Core 263 Multi-Apartment Residential Compounds 269 Insubstantial Structures 278 Neighborhoods 280 The Oaxaca Enclave 282 The “Enclave of the Merchants” 287 People from West Mexico 289 Districts 290 Crafts: Materials, Production, Distribution, and Consumption 292 Obsidian 296 Ceramic Production and Consumption 303 Utilitarian Ground Stone 309 Lapidary Crafts 314 Textiles and Other Perishable Materials 317 Construction 318 Services and Specialties 319 Ceramic Wares and Forms 321 Ceramic Figurines 328 Major Imported Ceramic Wares at Teotihuacan 331 Polity and Society in Late Teotihuacan 335 Environmental Issues 340 Elsewhere in the Basin of Mexico 341 Teotihuacanâ€TMs Interactions Outside the Basin of Mexico 343 The Outer Core 344 Oaxaca 346 The Gulf Lowlands 347 West Mexico 351 The Maya Area 352 8 Teotihuacan Ideation and Religion 357 Teotihuacan Writing 372 Calendars, Astronomy, and Cosmograms 377 Teotihuacan Religion 383 Teotihuacan Deities 385 9 “Interesting Times”: Teotihuacan Comes Apart and a New Story Begins 400 The Decline and Fall of Teotihuacan: 500/550–550/650 CE 401 Aftermath of Collapse 410 Elsewhere in Mesoamerica 413 Since 850 CE 414 10 Teotihuacan in a Wider Perspective 418 Notes 425 Section 425 Glossary 428 Bibliography 434 Index 485 This Is The First Comprehensive English-language Book On The Largest City In The Americas Before The 1400s. Teotihuacan Is A Unesco World Heritage Site, Located In Highland Central Mexico, About Twenty-five Miles From Mexico City, Visited By Millions Of Tourists Every Year. The Book Begins With Cuicuilco, A Predecessor That Arose Around 400 Bce, Then Traces Teotihuacan From Its Founding In Approximately 150 Bce To Its Collapse Around 600 Ce. It Describes The City's Immense Pyramids And Other Elite Structures. It Also Discusses The Dwellings And Daily Lives Of Commoners, Including Men, Women, And Children, And The Craft Activities Of Artisans. George L. Cowgill Discusses Politics, Economics, Technology, Art, Religion, And Possible Reasons For Teotihuacan's Rise And Fall. Long Before The Aztecs And 800 Miles From Classic Maya Centers, Teotihuacan Was Part Of A Broad Mesoamerican Tradition But Had A Distinctive Personality That Invites Comparison With Other States And Empires Of The Ancient World.-- Preliminaries -- Situating Teotihuacan -- Urbanism Begins In Central Mexico : 500-100 Bce -- Teotihuacan Takes Off : 100-1 Bce -- Teotihuacan Supremacy In The Basin Of Mexico : 1-100 Ce -- Great Pyramids And Early Grandeur : 100-250 Ce -- Teotihuacan At Its Height : 250-550 Ce -- Teotihuacan Ideation And Religion : Imagery, Meanings, And Uses -- Interesting Times : Teotihuacan Comes Apart And A New Story Begins : 550 Ce And After -- Teotihuacan In A Wider Perspective. George L. Cowgill, Arizona State University. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 257-284) And Index. "This is the first comprehensive English-language book on the largest city in the Americas before the 1400s. Teotihuacan is a UNESCO world heritage site, located in highland central Mexico, about twenty-five miles from Mexico City, visited by millions of tourists every year. The book begins with Cuicuilco, a predecessor that arose around 400 BCE, then traces Teotihuacan from its founding in approximately 150 BCE to its collapse around 600 CE. It describes the city's immense pyramids and other elite structures. It also discusses the dwellings and daily lives of commoners, including men, women, and children, and the craft activities of artisans. George L. Cowgill discusses politics, economics, technology, art, religion, and possible reasons for Teotihuacan's rise and fall. Long before the Aztecs and 800 miles from Classic Maya centers, Teotihuacan was part of a broad Mesoamerican tradition but had a distinctive personality that invites comparison with other states and empires of the ancient world."--Page 4 de la couverture This is the first comprehensive English-language book on the largest city in the Americas before the 1400s. Teotihuacan is a UNESCO world heritage site, located in highland central Mexico, about twenty-five miles from Mexico City, visited by millions of tourists every year. The book begins with Cuicuilco, a predecessor that arose around 400 BCE, then traces Teotihuacan from its founding in approximately 150 BCE to its collapse around 600 CE. It describes the city's immense pyramids and other elite structures. It also discusses the dwellings and daily lives of commoners, including men, women, and children, and the craft activities of artisans. George L. Cowgill discusses politics, economics, technology, art, religion, and possible reasons for Teotihuacan's rise and fall. Long before the Aztecs and 800 miles from Classic Maya centers, Teotihuacan was part of a broad Mesoamerican tradition but had a distinctive personality that invites comparison with other states and empires of the ancient world. --Provided by publisher Long before the Aztecs and 800 miles from Classic Maya centers, Teotihuacan was part of a broad Mesoamerican tradition but had a distinctive personality. This book synthesizes a century of research, including recent finds, and covers the lives of commoners as well as elites.