Mesoamerica: Did you mean...?

Search

Search Results

History of the Aztec Civilization, a Mesoamerican Empire
Video by Kelly Macquire

History of the Aztec Civilization, a Mesoamerican Empire

The Aztec civilisation spanned from around 1300 CE until 1521, and at its greatest extent, the empire covered most of Northern Mesoamerica. Although we refer to these peoples as ‘Aztecs,’ that is not what they called themselves. They were...
El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City (UNESCO/NHK)
Video by UNESCO

El Tajin, Pre-Hispanic City (UNESCO/NHK)

Located in the state of Veracruz, El Tajin was at its height from the early 9th to the early 13th century. It became the most important centre in north-east Mesoamerica after the fall of the Teotihuacan Empire. Its cultural influence extended...
Twelve Menacing & Protective Mythological Figures
Article by Joshua J. Mark

Twelve Menacing & Protective Mythological Figures

The term mythology comes from the Greek words mythos (“story of the people”) and logos (“word”) and so is defined as the spoken (later written) story of a culture. Modern scholars have divided myths into different types which serve many different...
Interview: The Last Days of the Incas (Kim MacQuarrie)
Interview by James Blake Wiener

Interview: The Last Days of the Incas (Kim MacQuarrie)

How did a mere 167 Spaniards conquer an empire of 10 million people? The Spanish were outnumbered 200-to-1 yet they were able to seize the Inca capital, Cuzco, and dispose of the Inca ruler within only a year. Kim MacQuarrie's The Last Days...
Jadeite Olmec Mask
Image by Mary Harrsch (Photographed at the Dallas Museum of Art)

Jadeite Olmec Mask

A mask of jadeite from the Olmec civilization of the Gulf coast, Mesoamerica, 900-500 BCE. Provenance: Rio Pesquero, Mexico. (Dallas Museum of Art)
CocoaTree
Image by Luisovalles

CocoaTree

Fruits hanging on Theobroma cacao, better known as the cocoa-tree. Chocholate was a prized food in ancient Mesoamerica.
Olmec
Image by Mary Harrsch (Photographed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y.)

Olmec "Baby" Figurine

A life-size ceramic 'baby' figurine from the Olmec civilization of Mexico, Mesoamerica, 12th-9th century BCE. The significance of these figures, often depicting infantile gestures, is not clear. They may represent deities or royalty. Provenance...
15 Aztec Gods
Collection by Mark Cartwright

15 Aztec Gods

The Aztecs of northern Mesoamerica (c. 1345 and 1521 CE) worshipped some of the weirdest, most fantastic and downright scary gods seen anywhere in history. The Aztec civilization and the empire it created revolved around winning special favour...
Religions of the World
Collection by Joshua J. Mark

Religions of the World

Religion has always been an integral aspect of the human condition. Archaeological evidence strongly suggests religious practices dating back to c. 60,000 BCE and it seems probable that belief in an unseen spiritual world developed independently...
A Gallery of Ancient Walls from Around the World
Image Gallery by Joshua J. Mark

A Gallery of Ancient Walls from Around the World

Walls in the ancient world were built around cities or territories for defense but also served many other purposes, such as enclosing temples, surrounding palaces, enclosing tombs, providing people with homes, and encircling sports venues...
Membership