The Metropolitan Museum of Art Student Preparation Materials Background Information
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Student Preparation Materials Background Information When the Spanish conquerer, Hernan Cortes landed in Mexico in 1519, he found the extensive Aztec Empire headed by Montezuma II. The Europeans were amazed to find that the Aztec had a complex writing system, a method of notation for mathematical computation, as well as an accurate calendar. Their agricultural techniques were highly developed — canals for irrigation, granaries for the harvests. The capital, Tenochtitlan, now the site of Mexico City, was a complex urban center with towering pyramids, temples, palaces, and impressive mansions for the nobility. However, the history of Middle America, (the area from north of Mexico City south to Panama) does not begin with the Aztecs. In fact, civilization extends back nearly three thousand years. Although Cortes and his followers caused untold destruction, and arrested the development of indigenous culture, other earlier cultures had already been lost. Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico was destroyed by fire near the end of the 7th Century A.D.; Maya cities built before 900 had been abandoned and covered by jungle growth. It has been the work of archaeologists to excavate these sites, and many more, in order to unearth buildings, cities, tombs and reclaim a great cultural heritage from the earth. This special exhibition, BEFORE CORTES, has been designed and arranged to explore the spectacular artistic production of Middle America from the mid-12th Century B.C. to the early 16th Century A.D. More than three hundred works are included - of stone, wood, clay, mosaic, jade, gold and other materials.
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