====== Mesoamerica ======

**Mesoamerica** refers to a broad geographical area in the southern part of North America, consisting of parts of modern-day [[Mexico]], [[Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[Belize]], [[Nicaragua]], [[El Salvador]], and northern [[Costa Rica]].

The cultures historically present in these areas include:

  * [[aztecs|Aztec]], 1325–1521 CE, central Mexico
  * Formative Period, 2500 BC–200 CE, [[La Blanca]], [[Ujuxte]], [[Monte Alto]] Culture, [[Mokaya]] Culture
  * [[Huastec]], 1000 BC–1500 CE, Hidalgo, Veracruz, San Luis Potosi and Tamaulipas
  * [[Maya]], 2600 BC–1697 CE, Mexican Southern states: Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche and [[Yucatan]] Peninsula; Central America: Belize; Guatemala; El Salvador; Honduras
  * [[Mixe]], 400–present
  * [[Mixtec]], unknown–1600 CE, western Oaxaca
  * [[Olmec]], 1500–400 BC, Veracruz and Tabasco
  * [[Purepecha]] Empire or Tarascan state, 1300–1530 CE, Michoacan
  * [[Teotihuacan]], 200 BC–800 CE, near Mexico City
  * [[Teuchitlan]] tradition, 300 BC – 500 CE, north-central Jalisco
  * [[Toltec]], 900–1100 CE – may be mythical
  * [[Totonac]], unknown–1500 CE, eastern Mexico
  * Western Mexico shaft tomb tradition, 1500–300 CE, Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit
  * Western Mexico shaft tomb tradition, 300 BC–400 CE, Jalisco, Nayarit, and, to a lesser extent, Colima
  * [[Zapotec]], 500 BC–1500 CE, Oaxaca

===== Geography =====

The geographical zones of Mesoamerica are extremely diverse. There are mountains, lowlands, deserts, rainforests, and coastal areas, the climate conditions varying across each.
===== History =====
==== Archaic Period ====
==== Formative Period ====
==== Pre-Classic Period ====
==== Classic Period ====
==== Postclassic Period ====
==== Colonial Period ====
The Colonial Period lasted from 1521 to 1821 CE.


===== Modern Day =====


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