The chronology of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica is usually divided into the following eras:
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2 Archaic Era 3 Pre-Classic Era 4 Classic Era 5 Post-Classic Era |
A period of hunterss and gatherers.
The development of agriculture in the region. Permanent villages established. Late in this era, use of pottery and loom weaving becomes common.
The start of nation-states. The first large scale ceremonial architecture, development of cities. The development and flourishing of the Olmec civilization. Early Zapotec and Maya civilization.
Teotihuacan grows to a metropolis and its empire dominates Mesoamerica. The greatest era of the cities of the Maya southern lowlands, such as Tikal, Palenque, and Copan.
The Classic Era ended earlier in Central Mexico, with the fall of Teotihuacan around the 7th century, than it did in the Maya area, which continued for centuries more. The late period of continued Maya development is sometimes known as the Florescent Era.
In the early 20th century, the term Old Empire was sometimes given to this era of Maya civilization in an analogy to Ancient Egypt; the term is now considered inaccurate and has long been out of use by serious writers on the subject.
Collapse of many of the great nations and cities of the Classic Era, although some continue, such as in Oaxaca, Cholula, and the Maya of Yucatán, such as at Chichen Itza and Uxmal. This is sometimes seen as a period of increased chaos and warfare. The Toltec for a time dominate central Mexico in the 11th - 13th century, then collapse. The northern Maya are for a time united under Mayapan. The Aztec Empire rises in the early 15th century and seems on the path to asserting a dominance over the whole region not since Teotihuacan, when Mesoamerica is discovered by Spain and conquered by the Conquistadores.
The late florescence of the northern Maya was sometimes called New Empire in the early 20th century, but this term is no longer seen as appropriate nor used.
Arguably, the Post-Classic continued until the conquest of the last independent native state of Mesoamerica, Tayasal, in 1697; see also: Spanish conquest of YucatánPaleo-Indian Period
c. 20,000 BC - 8,000 BC Archaic Era
c. 8,000 BC - 20th century BCPre-Classic Era
c. 20th century BC - 2nd century ADClassic Era
c. mid 2nd century - early 10th century Post-Classic Era
10th century - 16th century.