Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Classic Basin of Mexico

100 CE 649 CE
D G SC WF RG CC EQ 2020  mx_basin_of_mexico_7 / MxClass
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
[MxCuicu] [None]   Update here

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.

Displayed: 106 CE

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  General Description   The Basin or Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly corresponding to modern-day Mexico City. Here, we are interested in the phase of its prehistory known as the Classic or Early Classic period (c. 100-649 CE). This period was characterised by sophisticated forms of artistic expression and high levels of craft specialisation, pronounced differences between the material culture of the wealthier classes and that of the poorer ones, and trade networks extending farther and farther across the wider region. In the Basin of Mexico, Teotihuacan was the dominant centre, and the presence of Teotihuacano artefacts outside of the Basin testifies to its far-ranging influence. [1] Indeed, Teotihuacan was the largest city in the world, with a population of about 100,000 [2] or 125,000. [3]
Relatively little is known regarding Teotihuacan’s political organisation. There is no consensus on the existence of a ruler’s palace at the site, nor have royal burials or depictions of individual rulers been found. The site has yielded representations of elite personages, but they are usually shown in groups, partaking in processions, and wearing masks, suggesting that power was shared or distributed: perhaps, the city was governed by a committee of representatives from different interest groups, and/or spokespeople for some or each of the city’s thousands of apartment compounds. [4]

[1]: (Evans 2012: 122-123) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/AN5IUQ7X.

[2]: (Carballo 2019: pers. comm. to E. Cioni and G. Nazzaro)

[3]: (Sugiyama 2005: 2) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/P56I2R2H.

[4]: (Feinman 2012: 230-231) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/M7SIWVJQ.

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7) was in:
 (100 CE 649 CE)   Basin of Mexico
Home NGA: Basin of Mexico
General Variables
Identity and Location Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Temporal Bounds Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [100 CE ➜ 649 CE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Succeeding Entity MxEpicl Confident Expert 100 CE  649 CE
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Preceding Entity
CE
MxCuicu [None]    Update here
Confident Expert
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Language Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Language Genus uncoded Undecided Expert 100 CE  649 CE
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Religion Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [100,000 to 125,000] people Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Polity Population - Suspected 100 CE  649 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 3 Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Professions Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Bureaucracy Characteristics Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Unknown Suspected 100 CE  649 CE
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Law Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Irrigation System Unknown Suspected 100 CE  649 CE
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Food Storage Site Unknown Suspected 100 CE  649 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Unknown Suspected 100 CE  649 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Special-purpose Sites Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Money Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Postal System Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Measurement System Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Moat Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Ditch Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Military use of Metals Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Iron Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Copper Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Bronze Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Projectiles Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Sling Present Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Self Bow Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Javelin Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Composite Bow Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Atlatl Present Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Handheld weapons Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Sword Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Spear Present Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 100 CE  649 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Battle Axe Present Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Animals used in warfare Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Dog Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Armor Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Shield Present Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Limb Protection Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Helmet Present Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Breastplate Absent Confident 100 CE  649 CE
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Naval technology Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident Disputed 100 CE  649 CE
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Human Sacrifice Classic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_7)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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