STATES AND EMPIRES IN ANCIENT MESOAMERICA

    Authors

    A. F. Chase; D. Z. Chase;M. E. Smith

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Anc. Mesoam.

    Keywords

    Archaeology

    Abstract

    Ancient Mesoamerican polities are an important source of data for considerations of state development, despite internal debate over their size and complexity. We review complex political units, usually referred to as "states" and "empires," in ancient Mesoamerica and reach the following conclusions: these polities tended to be hegemonic, rather than territorial, in composition; they melded ritual and political action; and they utilized the ruler as a symbol of the "body politic." We also note the apparently larger size of most Maya polities as compared to other Mesoamerican city-states. Besides reviewing the commonalities among ancient Mesoamerican states, we also highlight the variation among these polities and the need to consider historic and archaeological data contextually in making interpretations of political structure.

    Journal Title

    Ancient Mesoamerica

    Volume

    20

    Issue/Number

    2

    Publication Date

    1-1-2009

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    175

    Last Page

    182

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000282490100002

    ISSN

    0956-5361

    Share

    COinS