MesoAmerican Art History Final

1. Apocalypto


2. Tikal
Classic
Largest site discovered. Large urban center (city focus, socially arranged)
Peten style of construction (large pyramids)
Kings:
New Dynasty after Tikals defeat (Jaguar Paw, Curl Nose(outsider), Stormy
Sky)
Buildings: Great Plaza surrounded by Temples I & II, Central Acropolis (main
residential palace),
Temple I: 170 feet high, built around 700 AD, Ruler buried Jasaw Chan Kawil
Temple II: across from Temple I, believed to be where his wife is buried
Northern Acroplois: series of smaller pyramids and temples populated by
people of high status (they were buried there)
Central Acropolis: palace for leaders- started off small then each generation
built upon it. No doors, only curtains.
Lost World Complex: PreClassic structure, Radial with access on all sides,
Twin Pyramids: complexes built every 20 years (20 is significant) two
pyramids on west wand east and structure in the middle without a roof for
processing an idol and placing it in the middle building

3. Palenque
Paklenque- Fortification; Otolum- Land with strong houses
Western edge, more modest architecture style, utilize hills in the site
Palace- Unique because it has a tower (for astronomical observances or
defense)
Temple of Inscriptions- built by Pakal
Cross Group- Temple of the cross, sun and foliated cross. Constructed by son
of Pakal. Three stones are put in place by gods and that created the universe,
reflected in temple layout. All temples were supposed to be sweat baths.
Image on back of all baths- two men facing each other with an object in the
middle- its supposed to be Kam Balan at two points in his life: when he is a
young boy and when he is becoming king. Does this to show that he is the
affirmative king of his family.
Ruler: Pakal


4. Teotihuacan
Basin of Mexico- low area, one of the largest cities ever built
Translated to the place of the road to the gods Maya say it is place of reeds
Had more than 125,000 people at its height
Many natural springs around the area, contains pyramid of the sun
Pyramid of the Sun: Marks the point where time began, built above a cave
reconstructed with five platforms which is a mistake (only had four).
Adorned by images of Thwalock (rain god- had goggle eyes)
Street of the Dead, named because of burials on the sides of the road- turned
out to be coincidental
Great Compound: Housed the main market place and military complex
Talud/Tablero architecture- Talud is base, Tablero is rock with filling


5. Monte Alban
Building J: Observatory lined up with a star

6. Uxmal
End of classic period
Northern Yucatan, Cooke style of architecture
Walled settlement
Curved pyramid with monster mouth doorway

7. Chichen Itza
Maya capital, Talud/Tablero style for the platforms/also has round places
Has lots of cenotes which are ruptured limestone pools- several cenotes,
largest never used as a water source.
Tzompantli- skull rack
Mexican or foreign influence at chicen itza: round temples, colonnades,
tzompantli, chacmools, wide doorways with stone columns
It seems that the Toltec were the ones to travel to Chichen and
influence the architecture

8. Tula
Classic
Origin land of the the Toltec
Has colonnades, temple with warriors at the top, and chacmools

9. Tulum
Postclassic
Zama- City of Dawn
Walled city against the water
Castillo is the main building has a ramp in the back, Doorway is wide with
feathered serpent columns
Dotted with guard houses
Diving God- Head down, legs up, water diety
Bee diety- to help with the honey production

10. Aztec
A group of Chichimec, trying to settle around Lake Texcoco, called
themselves Mexica
Settled on an island in the middle of the Lake and called it Tenochtitlan.
Moctezuma I expands empire,
Island has four zones, each zone has twenty districts
Chinapas- floating gardens (for farms)
Huge main plaza- one pyramid w/ twin temples on top- Huitzlipochtli/Tlaloc


11. Conquest
1492- Columbus goes to New World, followed by many other explorers.
Aguilar and Guerrero shipwreck. Aguilar rejoins Spanish, Guerrero marries
native and joins resistance against invading Spanish
Moctezuma II doesnt stop Spanish from entering Tenochtitlan and they take
everything captive, Spanish get new forces and attack Ten. And everything
falls.

12. Misc.
Mayan Area: Mexico, Guatmelala, Belize, Honduras, & El Salvador
Chronology: Preclassic (Formative), Early 1500-1000BC, Middle 1000-400 BC, Late
400BC-100AD; Protoclassic 100-250 AD; Classic