Home Region:  Mexico (North America)

Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico

1200 CE 1426 CE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  mx_basin_of_mexico_10 / MxPostM
Preceding Entity:
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Succeeding Entity:
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Displayed: 1326 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 Middle Postclassic (c. 1200-1426 CE). By this time, Tula no longer held sway over the region, and had been replaced by several city-states (altepetl). Documents written much later record the dynastic histories and conflicts between these city-states; toward the very end of this period, they came to form growing confederations, paving the way for the Aztec empire. [1] Major centres such as Azcapotzalco, Texcoco, or Cholula likely had between 20,000 and 30,000 inhabitants. [2] Each altepetl was ruled by a king (tlatoani) and a council of nobles. [3]

[1]: (Evans 2012: 123-124) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/AN5IUQ7X.

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

[3]: (Smith and Sergheraert 2012: 449) Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/XC9E2B7Q.

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 Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10) was in:
 (1200 CE 1426 CE)   Basin of Mexico
Home NGA: Basin of Mexico
General Variables
Identity and Location Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Temporal Bounds Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [1200 CE ➜ 1426 CE] Confident Expert
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Political and Cultural Relations Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Language Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Language Genus uncoded Undecided Expert 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Religion Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [20,000 to 30,000] people Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Polity Territory - Suspected 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Polity Population [700,000 to 800,000] people Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 3 Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Military Level - Suspected 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Administrative Level - Suspected 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Professions Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Present Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Specialized Government Building Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Merit Promotion Unknown Suspected 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Present Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Examination System Unknown Suspected 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Law Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Judge Unknown Suspected 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Unknown Suspected 1200 CE  1426 CE
Court Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Market Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Special-purpose Sites Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Writing System Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Script Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Mnemonic Device Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Unknown Suspected 1200 CE 1299 CE
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Scientific Literature Present Confident 1300 CE 1426 CE
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Sacred Text Unknown Suspected 1200 CE 1299 CE
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Sacred Text Present Confident 1300 CE 1426 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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History Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Calendar Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Information / Money Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Postal System Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Information / Measurement System Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moat Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Ditch Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Military use of Metals Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Iron Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Copper Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Bronze Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Projectiles Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Sling Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Javelin Absent Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Composite Bow Absent Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Atlatl Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Handheld weapons Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Sword Absent Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Spear Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Dagger Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Battle Axe Absent Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Animals used in warfare Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Dog Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Armor Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Shield Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Limb Protection Present Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Leather Cloth Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Helmet Present Inferred 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Breastplate Present Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Naval technology Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Absent Confident 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Absent Confident Disputed 1200 CE  1426 CE
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Human Sacrifice Middle Postclassic Basin of Mexico (mx_basin_of_mexico_10)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
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