This is what the 4 main Mesoamerican cultures were like.

A review of the main civilizations of pre-Columbian Central America.

Much is said, vaguely, about the aboriginal cultures of the American continent, especially in the center and south of it. The Maya or Aztec cultures are the most historically important, due to the great influence they had. However, there are more than a dozen Mesoamerican civilizations and cultures, especially in the center and south of the continent. Mesoamerican civilizations and culturesthat date back to more than 20,000 B.C. in some cases.

According to findings and archaeological experts, Mesoamerican cultures such as the Huastecans, Tlaxcaltecs, Chichimecas, Toltecs and Zapotecs, among others, existed in this area of the planet. In this sense, it seems that America was apparently discovered long before the arrival of Christopher Columbus (1492) and the (1492) and the Spanish Empire, which arrived to establish its bases because of the richness of these lands.

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The origins of Mesoamerica

As we indicated in the introduction, Mesoamerican culture or civilization dates back to pre-Hispanic times in the regions that now make up countries such as Mexico, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica. The beginning of the cultural and demographic proliferation occurred in the thaw, back in the year 7000 B.C., a fact that led to the development of agricultural activity so that the inhabitants could subsist.

Over the years (millennia) and as the different aboriginal communities evolved, other more complex skills were developed, such as architecture and the establishment of cities. As was the case in the beginnings of almost any type of society, the foundations were also laid the foundations of a religion in which to lean were also laid.The most important Mesoamerican cultures of the time were those of the Mesoamerican civilization, performing rituals and worshipping the gods who were asked for help in difficult times.

The most relevant Mesoamerican cultures

Although it may seem that these societies emerged at the same time, research points to a temporal disparity between them. Below you will find a brief explanation of the most important Mesoamerican cultures.

1. Aztecs

Curiously, in their beginnings the Aztecs were considered an inferior Mesoamerican culture. were considered an inferior Mesoamerican culture because of their nomadic nature.The Aztecs were considered an inferior Mesoamerican culture because of their nomadic nature until the 15th century when they decided to establish their own empire. They worked the land to improve cultivation, built boats for fishing and invented an irrigation system to supply water to the territory where they ruled.

The Aztecs began to use the term Mexihco, which in their language means "in the navel of the moon", whose city -which ended up being the capital- founded in 1325 as Tenochtitlan, would end up being the current capital of Mexico. As the dominant tribe, the Aztecs decided to assimilate the weaker tribes, creating a homogeneous community that would end up bringing together 38 provinces, all of them tributaryall of them tributary for the development of the economy.

The religion they professed has been considered bloodthirsty due to the offerings they had to make to their gods, which often involved the sacrifice of human lives, prisoners of tribal wars or even family members. According to their belief, they had to feed the god of the sun, fertility and water in order to survive.

2. Maya

This is one of the most brilliant civilizations of the Mesoamerican cultures. This characteristic of exceptional is attributed to them because they influenced the development of knowledge in the region. As far as the American continent is concerned, astrology, mathematics and writing came from them.. The Mayas were also considered the merchant community par excellence, and were pioneers in cocoa, silk and cotton cultivation.

The religion was also polytheistic, alluding to the worship of several gods, especially that of corn, which was the basic source of income and food. Coinciding with the Aztec culture, also resorted to human sacrifice to please the gods, especially to avoid chaos and destruction.

3. Olmecs

The Olmec culture can be considered the mother of the two previous ones, the architect of what encompasses the settlement of Mesoamerican cultures. They are credited with the creation of writing and epigraphy, the invention of the zero and the Mesoamerican calendar.. In terms of art, the Olmec culture is easily distinguished from the rest, because its most emblematic iconography is formed by large statues in the shape of heads.

Olmec society was governed exclusively on the basis of theological laws. It is considered a theocracy of antiquity.. The worship of the gods (it was also polytheistic) was represented in temples dedicated to them and sculptures of idolatry. In addition, there was an authority to regulate the creed: the figure of the Shaman, the equivalent of the Roman Pope.

4. Teotihuacan Culture

This is perhaps the least known and most enigmatic of all the civilizations, since it is believed to have disappeared long before the it is believed that it disappeared long before the Spanish invasion.. There is very little data about it. The knowledge we have of the Teotihuacan people stems from the foundation of the city of Teotihuacan, which means "place of the gods".

Archaeological work led to the discovery of the city, which at its peak was considered a prestigious metropolis and the nerve center of Mesoamerica. Religion once again took on tremendous importance in this civilization, and the temples of Quetzalcoatl, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon are witnesses to this.