Mesoamerican chronology

Mesoamerican chronology is a timeline that divides the history of ancient cultures in Central America into distinct periods, based on archaeological evidence. It includes the Preclassic (ca. 2000 BCE–250 CE), when early villages and large cities like Nakbe developed; the Classic (250–900 CE), marked by the rise of powerful city-states such as Teotihuacan and Classic Maya centers; the Postclassic (900–1521 CE), characterized by shifts in civilization and the rise of the Aztec Empire; and the Colonial period following Spanish contact. This framework helps us understand cultural developments, political changes, and technological innovations over thousands of years in the region.