Teotihuacan: Map & History
Teotihuacan is an ancient Mesoamerican city located in a sub-valley of the Valley of Mexico, which is located in the State of Mexico, 40 kilometers (25 mi) northeast of modern-day Mexico City.
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Teotihuacan is an ancient Mesoamerican city located in a sub-valley of the Valley of Mexico, which is located in the State of Mexico, 40 kilometers (25 mi) northeast of modern-day Mexico City.
Modern Countries Once Part of Teotihuacan
At its mapped extent, Teotihuacan covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Teotihuacan's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Teotihuacan in Depth
History
The first human establishment in the Teotihuacan area dates back to 600 BCE, and until 200 BCE the site consisted of scattered small villages. The total estimated population of the Teotihuacan Valley during this time was approximately 6,000. From 100 BCE to 750 CE, Teotihuacan evolved into a huge urban and administrative center with cultural influences throughout the broader Mesoamerica region.
Period I occurred between 200 – 1 BCE and marks the development of a distinctively urban area. During this period, Teotihuacan began to grow into a city as local farmers began coalescing around the abundant springs of Teotihuacan.
Period II lasted between 1 CE to 350 CE. During this era, Teotihuacan exhibited explosive growth and emerged as the largest metropolis in Mesoamerica.
Culture
Archeological evidence suggests that Teotihuacan was a multi-ethnic city, and while the predominant language or languages used in Teotihuacan have been lost to history, early forms of Totonac and Nahuatl seem to be highly plausible. This apparent regionally diverse population of Teotihuacan can be traced back to a natural disaster that occurred prior to its population boom. At one point in time, Teotihuacan was rivaled by another basin power, Cuicuilco. Both cities, roughly the same size and hubs for trade, were productive centers of artisans and commerce. Roughly around 100 BCE, however, the power dynamic changed when Mount Xitle, an active volcano, erupted, and heavily affected Cuicuilco and the farmland that supported it.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Teotihuacan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Teotihuacan Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Teotihuacan appears, with the other states of the time.
Teotihuacan Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 5,674 km² in 698 CE.
Teotihuacan: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Teotihuacan exist?
Teotihuacan is dated to 50 BCE – 704 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
How large was Teotihuacan at its peak?
At its peak in 698 AD Teotihuacan covered about 5,674 km².
How did the map of Teotihuacan change over time?
Teotihuacan appears on 7 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1 CE to 600 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.