The Americas Before 1492 • Downfall of the Maya • Toltec Heritage The Reach of the Maya The Maya Empire was divided into three periods; the Preclassic, Classic, and Postclassic. The Preclassic Period began in 2000 BCE, and lasted until 250 AD. This period marked the first primitive civilizations. The Classical period was the peak of their civilization, and the postclassical was the recovery after the alleged fall. Theories of Causes for Maya Downfall There are many theories contributing to the downfall of this great civilization. Some of them have minimal to zero evidence behind them. Others, have much more historical and archaeological evidence to support them, and are thus more likely. The Drought Theory One Theory contributing to the downfall of the Maya is a combination of drastic environmental changes, including drought. This would have caused many crops like maize that were heavily depended on to fail. The Disaster Theory • Another, somewhat plausible way of explaining the sudden disappearance of the Maya in the 9th c AD is the presence of one, or a number of, natural disasters. The Warfare Theory Fairly recent discoveries of artifacts and stonecarvings point to the Maya not being quite as peaceful as previously thought. Civil wars were frequent, and some were tolling on their whole civilization. Toltec Heritage • In the late 5th century Teotihuacan was the most powerful city in central Mexico. The Toltecs were only one ethnicity living in the city • Around 496 CE they were forced to leave led by Huémac the First • Many moved to Tula, while others moved to Tlillan Tlapallan • The Toltecs and Chichimeca were constantly at war. • Huémac the first decided to make peace with Chichimeca and create a permanent monarchy • The date of this treaty is disputed but was most likely 510 CE or 567CE Society of the Toltecs • Commoners: • Because agriculture was so essential to the Toltec economy, the farmers, although far removed in status from the aristocracy, were in the majority and were secure in their rights and privileges. • The Tula, and Toltec capital, held a diverse population throughout the Toltec era. • Commoners in the capital most likely came from other cultures and from allied or vassal states • Commoners could range from anything to craftsmen, and merchants, to astronomers. • Although not much is known of the lower classes it is believed that they were made up of working people who helped to build the cities and connect the civilizations. Society of the Toltecs Upper Class • Artists and craftsmen were especially valued and were a special force within the Toltec government • Military and religious leaders were believed to fall into this class as well • It is believed that the Toltec peoples had a chief like figure who ran each particular city • Most likely the military ran most of the civilization and kept the common people in line The Toltec Legacy • The Toltec were very highly regarded by the Maya and the Aztecs, in particular, who seem to have copied many aspects of Toltec religious practices and art. • The Maya and the Aztec saw the Toltec period as a golden era, when ideas like writing, medicine, and metallurgy, were invented. • These may well have been invented by earlier civilizations. However, the Toltecs influence on agriculture and sculpture were much greater. Bibliography • Mark Cartwright. “Toltec Civilization,” Ancient History Encyclopedia. www.ancient.eu Toltec Civilization. • National Geographic Online: The Maya: Glory and Ruin 2007 • McKillop, Heather. The Ancient Maya: New Perspectives. New York: Norton, 2004. .