Mezoameryki

Mezoameryki, known in English as Mesoamerica, is a historical-cultural region in the Americas that extends from central Mexico to northern Costa Rica (definitions vary on reach toward Nicaragua and Panama). It is defined not by a political unit but by shared processes, practices, and iconography that emerged before European contact.

Agriculture and settlement were foundational. Maize was domesticated here and became the staple crop, complemented by beans, squash, and cacao. Societies developed intensive farming methods, including chinampas in lakes and terracing in highlands. Urban centers with monumental architecture—pyramids, plazas, and palaces—arose at sites such as Teotihuacan, Monte Albán, Tikal, Palenque, and Chichen Itza. Writing systems appeared in several cultures, with Maya hieroglyphs and other logosyllabic scripts; calendars combined ritual and solar cycles, notably the 260-day Tzolk’in and the 365-day Haab’, integrated in longer cycles.

The region was culturally diverse, with major groups including the Maya, Aztec (Nahuatl-speaking peoples of central Mexico), Zapotec, Mixtec, and Olmec (often called the “mother culture”). The Classic period (roughly 250–900 CE) featured strong urban centers and long-distance exchange; the Postclassic (c. 900–1521 CE) saw shifting polities and renewed networks.

European contact began with the 16th-century Spanish conquest, bringing colonial rule and profound demographic and cultural changes. Today, Mesoamerican heritage persists in descendant communities, archaeology, and enduring artistic and intellectual contributions.