Teotihuacan
100 B.C.E - 750 C.E
Teotihuacan also known as the city of the Gods, located at approximately 40 km north east of Mexico City was built by the Totonacs. It was a major ritual center, a center of agriculture and trade with a bustling market place. Teotihuacan had a population of approximately 200,000 citizens making it one of the largest cities in the world in this period.
The two major buildings are the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest pyramid in the Americas.
The Pyramid of the Moon even though it is smaller in size, it was perfectly constructed. It is the second largest pyramid in Teotihuacan. This pyramid was constructed prior to 200 A.D.
These two pyramids attract attention for their overall size, the surrounding buildings, smaller platforms, temples and palaces emphasize the horizontal orientation.
Evidence suggests that Teotihuacan was a multi-ethnic city, occupied by Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Maya and Nahua tribes. It was also a polytheistic city, Teotihuacans, as the people of this area are called, spoke Nahuatl, and had cults and different religious beliefs. They believed in human and animal sacrifice. It is believed that these people offered human sacrifices as part of a dedication when buildings were expanded or constructed. The victims of this sacrifices were enemy warriors captured after battles.
Teotihuacan just like other civilizations we have studied, is composed of different residential and work areas. Upper class homes were usually housed by families, different generations, such as grand fathers, fathers and sons.
CURRENT TEOTIHUACAN
Today Teotihuacan is one of the most visited places in the country. In 1987 this place was recognized as part of the world cultural heritage by the UNESCO. Today you can visit this archaeological zone everyday from 8 am to 5 pm. The cover fee is about $5 per person and the permit to videotape is about $4. Within this site there is a museum and many souvenir shops along the entrance where you can buy hand made artifacts from swords to masks and most of the stuff is hand made by locals.
Something quite interesting about Teotihuacan its that, it is very popular for visitors and locals to visit this place the first day of spring, this year would be March 20th, it is said to bring positive energy and wellness for those who reach the top of the Pyramid of the Sun when the spring equinox occurs. This year thousands of people are expected to visit this site.
The following website contains current information of Teotihuacan, it even has a virtual tour for those that would like to see this place.
E.C
The following video explains this civilization and how everything took place in the "City of the Gods", its a little bit long but if you enjoy learning about different cultures specially this one you will get a lot from it.
FROM MARGARET'S BLOG: I LIKED HOW SHE FOCUSED A LITTLE BIT ON THE MAYAS, TEOTIHUACAN AND THE OLMECS. I FOUND VERY INTERESTING THAT THE OLMECS DEVELOPED THEIR OWN HIEROGLYPHIC WRITING, AND CREATED THEIR VERY FIRST CALENDAR FOR THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THE OLMECS ALSO PRACTICED HUMAN SACRIFICE JUST LIKE THE TEOTIHUACANS.
FROM MEGAN'S BLOG: SHE ALSO FOCUSED ON TEOTIHUACAN, SHE EXPLAINED HOW THE RESIDENTS LIVED IN APARTMENT STYLE HOMES, IN ORDER TO HOUSE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS WITHIN THE FAMILY.
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