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The Americas

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BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.4CLOSERTHE AMERICASUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “The Americas”, OER Project, www.oerproject.com/PurposeComparing the rise and fall of societies will help you understand the ways in which cities and states in different regions were similar and different.Process1.Read the passage below from the article “Teotihuacan and Classic Mesoamerica,” by historian Bennett Sherry. Bythe fifth century CE, Teotihuacan was home to 200,000 peopleIt was one of the largest cities in the world at the time. The people of the city built three pyramids. Today, these are still standing.... Teotihuacan sits in the Mexican highlands. The dry season there lasted eight months. But like the Maya cities, Teotihuacan overcame this problem by building wells and canals. During the rainy seasons, these were used to collect water. During the dry seasons, they were used to water crops. ... Teotihuacan was the most important center of trade in Mesoamerica. Its huge market was once filled with goods. Its streets were filled with merchants from distant cities. Why was Teotihuacan such a major trading center? Obsidian, which is a black volcanic glass used for making tools and weapons. Teotihuacan controlled most of the obsidian in the region. ... Trade and obsidian are two possible reasons Teotihuacan was settled and grew so large. But there are other possibilities. Teotihuacan may have been an important religious site. People might have moved there to worship their gods long before it became a center of trade. Whatever the reason people moved to Teotihuacan, it was a city of immigrants. People from all over Mesoamerica made their home there....Teotihuacan society was divided into upper and lower classes. Large palaces surround the pyramids. ... Some scholars believe Teotihuacan was the center of a huge empire. They believe it conquered several of the Maya city-states. Teotihuacan fell around 550 CE. ... Some scholars blame foreign invaders. Others believethe city became less important as trade declined. Some believe there was an uprisingof the people against the ruling class. Others claim Teotihuacan fell because ofdrought.
BIG HISTORY PROJECT / LESSON 5.4CLOSERTHE AMERICAS2.After you finish reading, answer the questionson the next page. •Why was Teotihuacan an important city in Mesoamerica?•What are some of the theories about why Teotihuacan collapsed?•What are three similarities between Teotihuacan and one of the other societies in this lesson (Han China, Persians, Greeks, or Rome)?•What are three differences between Teotihuacan and one of the other societies in this lesson (Han China, Persians, Greeks, or Rome)?