Toltec Civilization Much of what is known about the Toltecs comes from the Aztecs Toltec means “the artificers” or “master builders” in Nahuatl The Toltec capital city was Tula The first Toltecs were called Toltec-Chichimec Debate about the extent of the empire

Toltec History After the fall of Teotihuacan, Mesoamerica went through a “dark age” “Civilized areas” (Valley of Mexico & the south) vs. “barbarians” (people of the north) Chichimecs Mexcoatl meaning “Cloud Serpent” led the invasion of Teotihuacan Topiltzin (“1 Reed” in Nahuatl) would become the most famous Toltec leader

Architecture Evidence of Toltec structures is limited since their capital city of Tula was burned and destroyed There is evidence of pyramids, temples, and ball courts Pyramid C & B Toltec influence in Chichen Itza

Pyramid “C” in Tula

Pyramid “B” in Tula

Palacio Quemado

Ball Court #1 Ball Court #2

The Serpent Wall Its a 130 ft wall that depicted a serpent eating a human being

Government The Toltec placed supreme emphasis on war While rulers of prior Mesoamerican societies often came from the ranks of the priesthood, the elite of the Toltec were always warriors first The major function of the government at Tula may have been to bring together the many different peoples in their region to join in their wars, and to reap the benefit of the tributes or territory gained in this manner

Economy Farming in the area around Tula required extensive irrigation because there was little rain It is believed that the Toltecs carried on an extensive long-distance trade The Mississipians & The Anasazi

Religion Two gods who reigned supreme during the peak years of the empire were Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca To the Toltecs, Quetzalcoatl was the creator god The legend of Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca – the god of night & sorcery

Arts The arts of the Toltecs seem to reflect a major shift form the predominantly religious focus of art in the earlier ages to a focus on war and death Some of the most prominent features of the ruins of Tula are the atlantes and chacmools Pottery Metalworks

These giant stone figures are found throughout Tula and are called atlantes This is an example of their art forms that placed emphasis on the warrior cult

Chac Mool A common form of sculpture found within Pyramid B’s temple Chacmools are statues of men reclining or lying down at an angle, with their heads up in a slightly awkward position

Warrior Ball Player Stone Panels

Coyote Warrior

Standing Figurines

Effigy Vessels Coyote Vessel Bird Vessel Turkey Vessel

Metalwork's

Decline Sometime during in the 1100s, Tula met a violent and destructive end after famine and factional fighting within the empire Most experts believe a group of Chichimecs invaded and thoroughly sacked the city Most Mesoamerican rulers after the fall, regardless of their actual background, claimed descent from the Toltec kings whose reputation as gods and warriors could only add to their glory