Around 2400 years ago, the Valley
of Teotihuacan was occupied by various rural communities with a population of
approximately 5,000 inhabitants within an area covering 2.5-3.7 square miles.
Toward 200 B.C., part of the population from the Southern Basin of Mexico,
immigrated to the north of Lake Texcoco. Thus resulted in a reorganisation of
the settlements and a new population centre was formed in the Valley. In this
way, the first planned urban settlement in Mesoamerica was born.
During the following phases of
the development of the City, a sophisticated level of urbanisation was reached
as demonstrated by an urban plan with streets and blocks, dominated by two
large perpendicular roadways running through them: the Avenue of the Dead and the
East-West Avenue. Likewise, the urban planning was evidence by drainage and a
sewage in the residential units, buildings and public plazas, as well as by an
official architectural style characterised as the slope-panel.
At its peak, the city had a
population of 175,000 inhabitants. The demographic increase, the economic
development and the high level of specialisation required to satisfy the needs
of the population, generated great social differences, as well as an important
expansion in the arts and sciences. This was a theocratic society, which
controlled the Valley of Teotihuacan and the neighbouring valleys of the Basin
of Mexico.
Throughout the city, different
levels of construction can be appreciated, demonstrating how the city grew on
top of itself during nine centuries. In this way, one can easily observe the
superimposed buildings which correspond to different stages in the development
of the Teotihuacan Culture, until its fall around 700-750 A.D. The collapse of
this city occurred due to social and environmental factors, and to economic growth
of groups in neighbouring valleys.
After the city was abandoned and
until the arrival of the Spanish, various cultural groups, such as the Toltecs
and the Aztecs respected it as a Sacred City. Settlements established
themselves on the outskirts, reoccupying the residential zones and the spring
fed agricultural areas.
In sheer size, the Pyramid of the
Sun is the largest pre-Hispanic building of its time (100-650 A.D.) and one of
the most significant in Meso America. Its name comes from the fact that
beginning in the 16th century accounts claimed that the Sun God was
worshipped at this immense monument. It is apparent that the Pyramid of the
Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, are the buildings
which dominated the growth and development of Teotihuacan. The religious
importance of this city brought great power to it, making it a sacred city and
principal destination of pilgrimages, allowing it to control the Valleys of
Toluca, Puebla-Tlaxcala and Morelos.
No comments:
Post a Comment