Mesoamerican civilization

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Timeline: Mesoamerican civilization

Years: c. 1500 BCE - 1525	Subject: History, Regional and National History
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191736728

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BCE CE

Year	Event
c. 1500 BCE	The Maya are believed to have lived in the same region from about 1500 BC to the present day - America's longest example of continuity Go to Maya in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 3100-1000 BCE Migration Society Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 1200 BCE	San Lorenzo develops as the first centre of America's earliest civilization, that of the Olmecs Go to San Lorenzo, Mexico in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 3100-1000 BCE Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 1000 BCE	Massive stone heads carved by the Olmecs provide a dramatic beginning to the story of American sculpture Go to Olmec in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 3100-1000 BCE 1000-600 BCE Arts Sculpture Latin America Central America Mexico The Olmecs raise large clay platforms, probably with temples at the top, beginning the long American tradition of sacred pyramids Go to Olmec in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 3100-1000 BCE 1000-600 BCE Architecture American architecture Religion Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 900 BCE	La Venta replaces San Lorenzo as the capital city and cultural centre of the Olmecs Go to La Venta, Chiapas, Mexico in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE Politics Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 600 BCE	An Olmec sculptor creates the piece known today as the Wrestler Go to Olmec in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE 6th century BCE Arts Sculpture Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 400 BCE	The Zapotecs create a great city at Monte Alban, continuing the Olmec culture Go to Zapotec in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century BCE 4th century BCE Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 150 BCE	The earliest inscriptions in an American script are those of the Zapotecs, from about this period Go to Zapotec in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 2nd century BCE Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 50 BCE	The Maya independently develop the concept of place value in numbers, previously pioneered in Babylon Go to Maya in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1st century BCE Science Latin America Central America Mexico The Maya introduce a calendar which has a cycle of fifty-two years, known as the Calendar Round Go to Maya in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1st century BCE Science Astronomy and space Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 100	Teotihuacan, the dominant city in the northern highlands of central America, introduces the god Quetzalcoatl Go to Quetzalcoatl in The Oxford Companion to World Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1st century CE Religion Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 500	The temple city of Tikal is one of many Mayan city states of the Classic period Go to Tikal, Guatemala in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century 6th century Politics Latin America Central America Mexico Beans are gathered by the Maya from wild cocoa trees and are probably used in a chocolate drink Go to Maya in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century 6th century Social and domestic Society Latin America Central America Mexico Mayan priests feature in stone carvings smoking pipes and puffing the smoke towards the sacred sun Go to Tobacco in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 5th century 6th century Social and domestic Society Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 950	Toltecs move into the valley of Mexico from the north and establish a capital city at Tula Go to Toltecs in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 10th century Politics Conquest and colonization Migration Society Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 960	A fair-skinned and bearded king, by the name of Quetzalcoatl, is exiled from Tula but says that he will be back in a 'One Reed' year. Go to Tula, Mexico in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 10th century Politics Latin America Central America Mexico
987	The Mayan city of Chichén Itzá is captured by the Toltecs Go to Toltecs in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 10th century Politics Conquest and colonization Latin America Central America Mexico
c. 1150	The Aztecs begin to move south from their original home, which they call Aztlan, somewhere in northern Mexico Go to Aztec in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 12th century Migration Society Latin America Central America Mexico South America
c. 1345	The Aztecs settle on an uninhabited island in a lake, which they name Tenochtitlan — the site of the modern Mexico City Go to Tenochtitlán, Mexico in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 14th century Migration Society Latin America Central America Mexico
1434	The rulers of Tenochtitlan join with two other neighbouring kingdoms to form the Aztec Triple Alliance Go to Aztec in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Politics Latin America Central America Mexico
1487	When the enlarged pyramid at Tenochtitlan is dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec sacrifice of human victims lasts for four days Go to Huitzilopochtli (America) in A Dictionary of World Mythology (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 15th century Religion Latin America Central America Mexico
1513	Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches the Pacific coast and claims the ocean for the king of Spain Go to Balboa, Vasco Núñez de (1475–1519) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization Exploration European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Society Empires Latin America Central America Mexico
1519	The Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortes lands on the coast of Mexico with 600 men, 16 horses and about 20 guns Go to Cortés, Hernando (1485–1547) in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Empires Latin America Central America Mexico Cortes and his tiny force capture Montezuma, ruler of the mighty Aztec empire, in his palace at Tenochtitlan Go to Cortés, Hernán (1485–1547) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Empires Latin America Central America Mexico
1520	Cortes loses control of Tenochtitlan and has to escape in haste with his men during 'the Sorrowful Night' Go to Cortés, Hernán (1485–1547) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Empires Latin America Central America Mexico
1521	After a little more than a year Cortes recaptures Tenochtitlan and finally establishes Spanish control over Mexico Go to Cortés, Hernán (1485–1547) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization War European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Empires Latin America Central America Mexico
1525	The conquistadors, settling on land granted to them after the conquest, begin the long process of European emigration to America Go to conquistadores in A Dictionary of World History (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Politics Conquest and colonization European empires from 1415 Spanish empire Europe Empires Latin America Central America Mexico

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date: 21 May 2025

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