Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan was an ancient city in Mexico located some 18 miles from modern Mexico City. It was founded during Mesoamerica’s upper pre-classic period, which spanned 600 to 150 BC.

In 100 BC a cluster of villages in the valley grew to form the great city. By around AD 500 the city had a population in excess of 125,000. Archeologists agreed that the city thrived for about 1000 years, that its main building phase occurred by 1000 years and it was abandoned around AD 750.

Workshops for the production of obsidian tools widely distributed throughout Teotihuacan as integral part to the city’s economy.

The obsidian was brought from mines at the nearby Pachuca source of distinctive ‘bottle-glass’ colored obsidian and transported to Teotihuacan workshop.

Religion was an integral, even dominating aspect of life in ancient Teotihuacan. A broad street that was named the Avenue of the Dead ran through the center of town and connected the major buildings.

The city was abandoned around 750 AD possibly after being overrun and sacked by invaders from the mountains.

When the Aztecs found the city in the 14th century, it was overgrown and in ruins. Nevertheless, they saw that it had once been a great city and they came to believe it had been built by the Gods. Teotihuacan became a place of pilgrim before being forgotten again after the Spanish conquered Mexico in 1521.
Teotihuacan