Mesoamericans
Maya and Aztec peoples
Mesoamericans are the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica—the cultural region spanning central Mexico through Central America that gave rise to the Aztec, Maya, Olmec, and other civilizations before European contact.
The term also applies to their modern descendants: Mesoamerican languages are still spoken by millions.
As an adjective, Mesoamerican describes cultural features of this region: Mesoamerican pyramids, Mesoamerican ball games.
Aztec feathered serpent god
- feathered serpentWinged snake deity
- blood sacrificeRitual killing for deities
- ball courtBounded sports surface
- cenoteLimestone sinkhole revealing groundwater
shaman · priest · underworld · cosmology · ancestor worship · creation myth · sacred cave · divination
Carved symbolic figures
- hieroglyphicsSymbolic picture-based writing
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- stelaUpright inscribed stone slab
- inscriptionsWords carved into surfaces
Long Count · Dresden Codex · scribes · logographic · syllabary · decipherment · astronomical tables · genealogy
Pointed polyhedral solid
- templeSacred worship structure
- zigguratStepped ancient temple mound
- ball courtBounded sports surface
- plazaPublic open square
stela · acropolis · limestone · stucco · causeway · palace · observatory · defensive walls
Carved ornamental mineral
- obsidianGlassy igneous rock
- potteryFired clay objects
- figurinesSmall ornamental sculptures
- maskFace-worn concealment
headdress · jewelry · mosaic · mirror · turquoise · goldwork · featherwork · incense burner
Ancient Mesoamerican people
- AztecAncient Mexican civilization
- OlmecAncient Gulf Coast people
- ToltecMesoamerican civilization, 900-1200 CE
- ZapotecMesoamerican indigenous group
Teotihuacan · Cholula · Tikal · Chichen Itza
Quetzalcoatl
Aztec feathered serpent god
- feathered serpentWinged snake deity
- blood sacrificeRitual killing for deities
- ball courtBounded sports surface
cenote · shaman · priest · underworld · cosmology · ancestor worship · creation myth · sacred cave · divination · incense
glyphs
Carved symbolic figures
- hieroglyphicsSymbolic picture-based writing
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- stelaUpright inscribed stone slab
inscriptions · Long Count · Dresden Codex · scribes · logographic · syllabary · decipherment · astronomical tables · genealogy · historical records
pyramid
Pointed polyhedral solid
- templeSacred worship structure
- zigguratStepped ancient temple mound
- ball courtBounded sports surface
plaza · stela · acropolis · limestone · stucco · causeway · palace · observatory · defensive walls · urban planning
jade
Carved ornamental mineral
mask · headdress · jewelry · mosaic · mirror · turquoise · goldwork · featherwork · incense burner · sculpture
Maya
Ancient Mesoamerican people
- AztecAncient Mexican civilization
- OlmecAncient Gulf Coast people
- ToltecMesoamerican civilization, 900-1200 CE
Zapotec · Teotihuacan · Cholula · Tikal · Chichen Itza
maize
Cob-bearing cereal crop
amaranth · chia · avocado · tomato · chili · cotton · tobacco · terracing · irrigation · nopal
MesoamericansIncas
Pre-Columbian Peruvian civilization
South Americans · Inuit · Plains Indians · Puebloans · Cherokee
MesoamericansEuropeans
People from that continent
Mesopotamians · East Asians · Romans · Chinese · Indians