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23 - Mesoamerican state formation in the Postclassic period

from Part V - State formations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2015

By
Michael E. Smith
Edited by
Benjamin Z. Kedar  and
Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks
Benjamin Z. Kedar
Affiliation:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
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Summary

This chapter focuses on the Mesoamerican Postclassic period, c. 700-1519. Archaeological data for Postclassic Mesoamerica is particularly strong for economic phenomena such as agricultural systems, craft production, and long-distance exchange. Most regions of Mesoamerica experienced two major demographic peaks prior to the Spanish conquest. The chapter reviews the nature of Postclassic society and its change in seven key regions of Mesoamerica. It explains the central Mexican highlands, the best-documented region of Postclassic Mesoamerica. The Postclassic period in Mesoamerica was a time of major change and growth in many dimensions, from demography to political organization to economics. Although archaeological coverage is uneven and native historical accounts do not contribute useful information until well into the Late Postclassic period, it is possible to summarize the major processes and changes on a large scale. The chapter describes demographic and agricultural growth, migrations, growth of commercial networks, and writing systems and literacy.
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge World History , pp. 610 - 637
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2015

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