HST 197 Lecture Notes - Lecture 52: Lake Texcoco, Toltec Empire, Chinese Constellations
Document Summary
States and empires in mesoamerica and north america. Mesoamerica entered an era of war and conquest in the 8th century. Great stores of wealth accumulated in teotihuacan. When this major city declined it became a target for less prosperous but well organized forces from the countryside and northern mexico. Militarization and empire building in mesoamerica lasted until spanish forces conquered the region in the 16th century. The capital cities all stood on well defended hill sites and warriors figured prominently in their works of art. Area surrounding mexico city where agricultural society flourished and dominated several regional states. The toltecs came from arid land of northern mexico and settled mostly in tula. Toltecs used the river tula to irrigate crops of maize, beans, peppers, tomatoes, chiles and cotton. Tula supported an urban population of about 60,000 people. Toltecs maintained large and powerful armies that campaigned periodically throughout.
