Throughout this web site, the histories of the zones will be related to the standard archaeological eras of the Pre-Classic, Classic and Post-Classic.

Roughly speaking, the Pre-Classic corresponds to the time of development of writing, architecture and urban life. The Classic period was when some of the most important Mesoamerican cultures were in their zenith, such as Teotihuacan and the Classic Maya. The Post-Classic correlates to the time of dislocation after the fall of the great empires and the rise of others in their wake before the arrival of the Spanish in 1519.

We will deal with the cultural histories in terms of five main regions.

Grand Civilisation Clock (boundaries between cultures are approximate) 

North

Central

Gulf Coast

South

Maya

                      Cultural Regional Map                                    Culture Colour Code

Río Bec / Chenes / Southwest / East Coast / Puuc / Northern Lowlands

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