Mesoamerican history

Mesoamerican history encompasses the diverse cultures and civilizations that developed in Central America, including the Olmec, Maya, Zapotec, Mixtec, Teotihuacan, and Aztec, from around 1500 BCE to the early 16th century. These societies built impressive cities, pyramids, and advanced their knowledge in writing, astronomy, and agriculture. The Maya created complex calendar systems and hieroglyphic writing, while the Aztecs established a vast empire with Tenochtitlán as its capital. European contact in the 16th century led to conquest, colonialism, and cultural transformation, profoundly shaping the region’s historical trajectory.