Mesoamerica is the region extending from central Mexico south to the northwestern border of Costa Rica that gave rise to a group of stratified, culturally related agrarian civilizations spanning an approximately 3,000-year period before the European discovery of the New World by Columbus. Mesoamerican is the adjective generally used to refer to that group of Pre-Columbian cultures. This refers to an environmental area occupied by an assortment of ancient cultures that shared religious beliefs, art, architecture, and technology that made them exc ...

Including:

• Mesoamerica - Bibliography

Read more here: » Mesoamerica: Encyclopedia - Mesoamerica

See also:

Obsidian use in Mesoamerica, Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Practical and Ritual Obsidian Use, Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Obsidian in Art and Writing, Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Value, Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Production and Techniques, Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Trade, Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Sources, Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Chemical Analysis, Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Cited Resource

Read more here: » Obsidian use in Mesoamerica: Encyclopedia II - Obsidian use in Mesoamerica - Value

Definition and meaning of Mesoamerica

Mesoamerica - [World History]

Mesoamerica includes Mexico and Central America. Sedentary agriculture in the Western Hemisphere developed here and in Peru in South America. This is significant because the cultivation of foodstuffs such as corn ensured a stable supply of food and encouraged groups of people to settle permanently instead of wandering in search of food as nomadic tribes did. This contributed to the rise of civilizations which sustained themselves through their food production and wielded control over less stable societies. Ancient civilizations in the area included the Mayan which extended over a broad region, built monumental architecture, and developed a language, a system of mathematics, and a religion. The Aztec, a nomadic tribe, pushed into the zone of sedentary agriculture and established an empire on the shores of Lake Texcoco after 1325 A.D.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

See major articles: History of Central America and History of the Caribbean The Zapotec emerged around 1500 years BC. Their writing system influenced the later Olmec. They left behind the great city Monte Alban. The Olmec civilization emerged around 1200BC in Mesoamerica and ended 400BC but left enough art and concepts to surrounding neighbours for them to build civilizations of their own. This civilization was the first in America to develop a writing system. After the Olmecs abandoned their cities for unknown reason ...

See also:

History of the Americas, History of the Americas - Migration into the continents, History of the Americas - Before advanced civilizations, History of the Americas - Civilizations, History of the Americas - North America, History of the Americas - Mesoamerica, History of the Americas - South America, History of the Americas - European discovery and following colonization

Read more here: » History of the Americas: Encyclopedia II - History of the Americas - Mesoamerica

History of astronomy - Maya civilization. The Maya calculated the solar year to somewhat greater accuracy than the Gregorian calendar. They made detailed tables for calculating phases of the Moon and the movements of Venus for centuries in the past or future. Astronomy and the measurement of time were vitally important components of Mayan religion. The Maya also carefully tracked the phases of the Moon and the motions of the naked eye planets. To the ancient Maya, Venus was the patron of war and many recorded battles are timed to the motions of this planet. Mars is also mentioned in ...

See also:

History of astronomy, History of astronomy - Ancient history, History of astronomy - India, History of astronomy - Mesopotamia, History of astronomy - Sumer, History of astronomy - Chaldea Babylonia, History of astronomy - Mesoamerica, History of astronomy - Maya civilization, History of astronomy - East Asia, History of astronomy - China, History of astronomy - Ancient Greece, History of astronomy - Middle ages, History of astronomy - The Copernican revolution, History of astronomy - Physics marries astronomy, History of astronomy - Modern astronomy, History of astronomy - Cosmology and the expansion of the universe, History of astronomy - New windows into the Cosmos open

Read more here: » History of astronomy: Encyclopedia II - History of astronomy - Mesoamerica

(Consensus conservative classification) FAMILIES Uto-Aztecan (Other branches outside Mesoamerica. See North America) Corachol (Cora-Huichol) Aztecan (Nahua-Pochutec) Totonac-Tepehua Otomanguean Otopamean Popolocan-Mazatecan Subtiaba-Tlapanec Amuzgo Mixtecan Chatino-Zapotec Chinantec Chiapanec-Mangue (extinct) ...

See also:

Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - North America, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Gallatin 1836, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Gallatin 1848, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Powell's 1892 Fifty-eight, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Sapir 1929: Encyclopædia Britannica, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Voegelin & Voegelin 1965: The Consensus of 1964, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Campbell & Mithun 1979: The Black Book, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Greenberg 1987, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Goddard 1996 & Mithun 1999, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Mesoamerica, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - South America, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Kaufman 1990, Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Bibliography

Read more here: » Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas: Encyclopedia II - Classification schemes for indigenous languages of the Americas - Mesoamerica

Carl-Johan Calleman is an internationally recognized authority in the studies of the Mayan Calendar. He has appeared in Swedish, Finnish and Mexican television and American Web-TV. He has published two books about the Mayan Calendar and he was one of the main speakers at a Mexican conference in Yucatan 1998 about the Mayan Calendar.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: About Materialist and Spiritual Calendars

The Native American Sweat Lodge, Temazcal, is an ancient practice from the native indians of America; a sacred ritual for Healing and Purification. Participants at the Oneness Festival will be able to experience this very powerful ritual both at day time, and, when it is as most powerful, at night time.

Read more here: » Sweat Lodge: Temazcal I/III - The Traditional Mexican Sweat Bath

The Native American Sweat Lodge, Temazcal, is an ancient practice from the native indians of America; a sacred ritual for Healing and Purification. Participants at the Oneness Festival will be able to experience this very powerful ritual both at day time, and, when it is as most powerful, at night time.

Read more here: » Sweat Lodge: Temazcal II/III - Mexican Method of Sweat Baths for Curative Purposes

The Native American Sweat Lodge, Temazcal, is an ancient practice from the native indians of America; a sacred ritual for Healing and Purification. Participants at the Oneness Festival will be able to experience this very powerful ritual both at day time, and, when it is as most powerful, at night time.

Read more here: » Temazcal III/III - Preparation of the Temazcal

How is the Mayan Long Count to be explained? Why did this ancient people, that were the most mathematically advanced of their day, choose to use a chronology that consisted of thirteen different periods of 144,000 days each, starting on August 11, 3114, BC and ending on December 21, AD 2012? On a more fundamental level three different types of answers have been given to this question, a materialist, a spiritual and what might be called a pseudo-spiritual, answers that are linked to different world views. In the materialist world view the astronomical, physical cycles are seen as primary to the spiritual whereas in the spiritual world view they are seen as secondary.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: What is driving the evolution of consciousness described by the Mayan Calendar? - I

Crucifixion is an ancient method of execution, where the victim was tied or nailed to a large wooden cross (Latin: crux) and left to hang there until dead. It was a fairly common form of execution from the 6th century BC, especially among the Persians, Egyptians, Carthaginians, and Romans, until c. 313 AD, when Christianity became the dominant faith in Rome. Crucifixion has special significance in Christianity as Jesus was put to death by the Romans by being nailed to a cross. The cross or the crucifix has become the main Chris ...

Including:

• Crucifixion - Details of crucifixion
• Crucifixion - Cross shape
• Crucifixion - Location of the nails
• Crucifixion - Cause of death
• Crucifixion - Archeological evidence for ancient crucifixion
• Crucifixion - History of crucifixion
• Crucifixion - Persia and Alexander
• Crucifixion - Roman Empire
• Crucifixion - Japan
• Crucifixion - Mesoamerica
• Crucifixion - Modern death on the cross
• Crucifixion - Modern crucifixions without death
• Crucifixion - Crucifixion as a devotional practice
• Crucifixion - Parody
• Crucifixion - Famous crucifixions
• Crucifixion - Related topics

Read more here: » Crucifixion: Encyclopedia - Crucifixion

The word mythology (from the Greek μυϑολογία mythología, "storytelling" [1]) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and to explain the nature of the universe and humanity. In modern usage, "mythology" is either the body of myths from a particular culture or religion (as in Greek mythology, Egyptian mythology or Norse mythology) or the ...

Including:

• Mythology - Definition
• Mythology - Religion and mythology
• Mythology - Classifications
• Mythology - Related concepts
• Mythology - Formation of myths
• Mythology - Myths as depictions of historical events
• Mythology - Other theories
• Mythology - Modern mythology
• Mythology - Myths by region
• Mythology - Africa
• Mythology - Asia non-Middle East
• Mythology - Australia and Oceania
• Mythology - Europe
• Mythology - Middle East
• Mythology - North America
• Mythology - South America and Mesoamerica
• Mythology - Mythological archetypes
• Mythology - Mythological creatures
• Mythology - Books on mythology

Read more here: » Mythology: Encyclopedia - Mythology

Ethnographers commonly classify indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada into ten geographical regions with shared cultural traits (called cultural areas). The following list groups peoples by their region of origin, followed by the current location. See the individual article on each tribe or First Nation for a history of their movements. See the List of Native American Tribal Entities for the United States' official list of recogn ...

Including:

• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - United States and Canada
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Arctic
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Subarctic
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - California
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Eastern Woodlands
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Great Basin
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Plateau
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Northwest Coast
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Plains
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Southeast
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Central and South America
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Caribbean
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Mesoamerica
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Andean
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Sub-Andean
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Western Amazon
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Central Amazon
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Eastern and Southern Amazon
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Southern Cone
• Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas - Languages

Read more here: » Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas: Encyclopedia - Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas

The Archeology of the Americas is the study of the archaeology of North America, Central America (or Mesoamerica), South America and the Caribbean. This includes the study of pre-historic/Pre-Columbian and historic indigenous American peoples. Other related archivesCaribbean, Central America, Mesoamerica, North America, Pre-Columbian, South America, archaeology, indigenous American peoples

Read more here: » Archeology of the Americas: Encyclopedia - Archeology of the Americas

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology is an archaeology and anthropology museum that is part of the University of Pennsylvania in University City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - History. The UPM, as it is commonly known, was founded in 1887. During the early 20th century, the UPM conducted some of the first and most important archaeological and anthropological expeditions to Egypt, Mesopotamia, Africa, Eas ...

Including:

• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - History
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - The Building
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - Collections
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - Egypt
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - China
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - Mesopotamia
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - Mesoamerica
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - Note
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology - Reference

Read more here: » University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology: Encyclopedia - University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Barkeria is a genus of orchids originating from Mexico, comprising about 15 species. This genus was once considered part of Epidendrum. These are deciduous orchids, which drop their leaves in early winter. They are found in dry scrub areas of Mesoamerica at intermediate elevations. Category: Orchid genera ...

Read more here: » Barkeria: Encyclopedia - Barkeria

Quetzalcoatl ("feathered snake", in Nahuatl: Ketsalkoatl, in Spanish: Quetzalcóatl) is the Nahuatl name for the Feathered-Serpent deity of ancient Mesoamerica, one of the main gods of many Mexican and northern Central American civilizations. Quetzalcoatl - Antecedents. The name "Quetzalcoatl" literally means quetzal-bird snake or serpent with feathers (Amphitere) of the Quetzal (which implies something divine or precious) in the Nahuatl language. The meaning of his local name in ...

Including:

• Quetzalcoatl - Antecedents
• Quetzalcoatl - Origins
• Quetzalcoatl - The cult
• Quetzalcoatl - Moctezuma Controversy
• Quetzalcoatl - Atributes
• Quetzalcoatl - In archeology
• Quetzalcoatl - Modern media

Read more here: » Quetzalcoatl: Encyclopedia - Quetzalcoatl

Auítzotl (sometimes rendered as Ahuitzotl or Axayacatl) was the eighth Aztec ruler, the Chief Speaker, of the city of Tenochtitlán. He was responsible for the expansion of the Mexica domain, and consolidated the empire's power after a weak performance by his predecessor. He took power as Tlatoani in 1486, after his predecessor Tízoc was poisoned. Perhaps the greatest known military leader of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, Auítzotl began his reign by suppressing a Huastec rebellion, and then swiftly more than doubl ...

Read more here: » Auítzotl: Encyclopedia - Auítzotl

The Mexican Hairless Dog is a rare, (almost) hairless breed of dog which can be quite variable in size. It's also known as Xoloitzcuintli or Xoloitzcuintle (the initial x is pronounced as an sh), Tepeizeuintli or Mexican Hairless. Owners of this dog call them "xolos" for short. The breed was native to Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and may date back 3500 years. Mexican Hairless Dog - Appearance. The breed ranges in size from about 10 pounds (4 kg) to 50 pounds (20 kg), with a ...

Including:

• Mexican Hairless Dog - Appearance
• Mexican Hairless Dog - History

Read more here: » Mexican Hairless Dog: Encyclopedia - Mexican Hairless Dog