2. Teotihuacan (300 B.C. –750 A.D.) The name means “place of the gods” or “where the men became gods” Located in the Valley of Mexico The information about this area was provided by the Aztec civilization Why was Teotihuacan a successful society?

3. This map depicts the layout of Teotihuacan and its major buildings

4. Architecture Within Teotihuacan’s 8 sq. miles were thousands of public buildings and residences, including 600 pyramids The Pyramid of the Sun The Pyramid of the Moon Avenue of the Dead La Ciudadela = The Citadel Temple of Quetzalcoatl

5. Talud/tablero - The slope and panel technique: a rectangular panel (tablero) was placed over slopping side (talud)

6. Pyramid of the Moon

7. Pyramid of the Sun

8. Ciudadela (Citadel) Located south of the Avenue of the Dead is the Citadel, a sunken plaza measuring about 1,300 ft. long, which may once have been the site of the ruler’s palace

9. Temple of the Feathered Serpent, Quetzalcoatl The structure is a seven-tiered step pyramid with talud-tablero facades located within the Ciudadela This was the last monumental public structure built in Teotihuacan, completed in the 3 rd century A.D.

10. Government Historians believe that the rulers of Teotihuacan ruled with iron fists Rulers and priests had a great deal of control over the lives of their people Scholars are not certain whether the rulers were priests, warriors, or both

11. Economy Teotihuacan was the center of an amazing amount of trade, producing a wide variety of goods The city was an international hub with excellent routes to other markets Obsidian production was the city’s biggest industry The majority of the valley’s inhabitants were farmers who grew the food that fed the people of Teotihuacan

12. Obsidian production in Teotihuacan was great Many of these fine obsidian points have been found in gravesites

13. Religion Most of the gods revered by the Teotihuacans are also found in other Mesoamerican religions Human Sacrifice Most of what is known about the religion of the Teotihuacans come from the religious scenes in their art

14. Art The Teotihuacans were highly skilled and renowned for their arts Their artistic style was sophisticated and orderly. It was highly influential and has been found throughout Mesoamerica Painted Murals Ceramics Stone Sculpture

15. Human sacrifice, many of whom wore necklaces featuring human jaws and teeth Shell, obsidian, & malachite Masks feature no holes to breathe

16. Mural showing the paradise of Tlaloc, the Rain God

17. Spider Woman Most of the murals created depicted religious subjects such as this one, the Spider Woman, the goddess of the underworld and may have influenced over darkness, water, war, caves, and possibly creation She wears fanged mask representing a spider’s mouth parts

18. Prowling jaguar from mural painting at Teotihuacan

20. Chalchiuhtlicue Water Goddess Huehueteotl – God of Fire

21. Quetzalcoatl Serpent on the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl Tlaloc – God of Rain

23. Tripod Lidded Ceramic Puppet like Figurine Crafted Ceramic – Hunchback w/ maize on his back

24. Most historians believe Teotihuacan had some basic form of writing using glyphs – figures used as a symbol to represent words, ideas, or sounds Used the bar and dot system: a bar is equal to 5 and a dot is 1 Theories of the decline of Teotihuacan Teotihuacan Society