Study Notes on Latin American Culture Areas and Chronology

Culture Areas of Latin America

  • Intermediate Area/Caribbean

  • Amazonia

  • Andes

  • Southern Cone

  • Southwest

  • Mesoamerica

Mesoamerica and Its Regions

  • Sierra Madre

    • Sierra Madre Oriental

  • Olmec

  • Gulf of Mexico

  • Tula

  • Teotihuacan

  • Tenochtitlan

  • Maya Area

    • Tikal

    • Monte Alban

    • Palenque

    • Copán

  • Northwestern Frontier

  • West Mexico

  • Michoacan and Bajio

  • Guerrero

  • Central Highlands

  • South Highlands

  • Gulf Lowlands

  • Southeast Mesoamerica

General Chronology of Latin America

  • Paleoindian Period: 16,000 BC - 8,000 BC

  • Archaic Period: 8,000 BC - 2,000 BC

  • Formative Period: 2,000 BC - 250 AD

    • Initial Formative: 2,000 BC - 1,200 BCE

    • Early Formative: 1,200 BCE - 900 BCE

    • Middle Formative: 900 BCE - 300 BCE

    • Late Formative: 300 BCE - 1 CE

    • Terminal Formative: 1 CE - 250 CE

  • Notable developments include:

    • Early Settled Villages

    • Olmec Civilization

  • Cities Growth

    • Early Cities: Monte Alban and Teotihuacan

  • Note: The BC/AD or BCE/CE system does not have a "Year 0."

Classic Period of Latin America

  • Classic Period: 250 AD - 900 AD

    • Early Classic: 250 - 600 CE

    • Late Classic: 600 - 900 CE

    • Epi-Classic: 750 - 900 CE

  • PostClassic Period: 900 AD - 1521 AD

    • Maya Kingdoms and Teotihuacan developments

    • Last Long Count Date: 909 CE

    • Early Post Classic: 900 - 1,200 CE

    • Middle Post Classic: 1,200 - 1,400 CE

    • Late Post Classic: 1,400 - 1,521 CE

    • The term “Collapse” often refers to the decline of empires during the transition to this period

  • Triple Alliance: Refers specifically to the Aztec alliance

Important Regions of the Andean Region

  • Ecuador

    • Regions include: Tumbes, Mirone, Tigre, Maraton, Iquitos, Vanal

  • Colombia

  • Brazil

    • No specific sub-regions mentioned

  • Primary Features of Inca Civilization

    • Chavin: Located in North Highlands

    • Wari: Found in Central Highlands

    • Tiwanaku: Situated in Altiplano

    • Cusco: Key area in Central Highlands

    • Several notable coastal regions include Moche and Nasca

    • Moche: Located on the North Coast

    • Nasca: Found on the South Coast

    • Other cities mentioned: Chiclayo, Trujillo

Andean Chronology

  • Inca/Late Horizon: 1350 CE - 1532 CE

    • Region Action: Dominance of regional polities a model of society from 1,000 CE - 1450 CE

  • "Collapse": Reflects decline during the Late Intermediate Period

  • Early States/Middle Horizon: 650 CE - 1000 CE

    • Key civilizations such as Moche, Wari, and Tiwanaku

  • Late Formative Period: 200 BCE - 650 CE

  • Moche: Classified within the Early Intermediate Period

  • Early Formative Period:

    • Chavin: Notable center

  • Initial Period and Early Horizon: 1800 BCE - 200 BCE

  • Cotton Preceramic: 3000 BCE - 1800 BCE

    • Important Note: Dates do not indicate the earliest state establishment or the first empire expansion.