In one story, while in 'Tula' the Chichimec tragically broke a truce with the Nonohualca people after a man taken in by the Chichimec sacrificed 4 Nonohualco women. The Nonohualco blamed the Chichimec and made war on them, but both parties soon decided that it was the fault of the man who had killed the women. Too many had already died however, and the two peoples broke ties the same day, leaving Tula to become wanderers again.

It was here that the Great Aztec empire would be built (modern day Mexico City.)The Mexica, with their own land, were finally able to thrive and soon they had Tlatoani (King) who was recognized by other kings in the area as the spokesperson for the new Altepetl (city state.)

The fall of Teotihuacan in 750 CE created a power vacuum, and Nomadic peoples like the Chichimec began arriving in the region. The Mexica people are descendants of the Chichimec warriors, however their arrival into the valley was late, meaning that the political and social power of the Mexico Valley was already held and defended by other tribes and Altepetls (City States.) This left the Chichemec reliant on alliances with other Altepetls, and they were often forced to travels as alliances broke and enemies were made. They were also unable to establish their own society, and had to fit themselves into the social and political frameworks of other communities.

Tenochtitlan, the Mexica capital, was built on an island in Lake Texcoco and connected to the mainland by three wide causeways with bridges that allowed canoe traffic and defense. At its center stood the sacred precinct with the Templo Mayor, palaces, temples, and schools. Surrounding this, the city was divided into four districts made up of calpulli, or neighborhoods, where commoners lived in adobe houses and nobles in larger stone homes. Canals ran throughout, making travel by canoe common. The great market at Tlatelolco (North side of the Island,) drew tens of thousands daily, trading food, tools, textiles, and luxury goods. The King's palace held gardens, aviaries, and a zoo with jaguars, monkeys, and exotic birds. Aqueducts brought fresh water from Chapultepec (Springs,) while floating gardens, supplied crops.

200 CE - 850 CE

Population: 8,000 - 10,000 

Palenque, known in the Maya language as Lakamha, meaning “Place of Great Waters,” was one of the most important Maya cities in ancient Mesoamerica. It was located in a region called Ba’akal, meaning "Bone." Ceramic remains show people lived there as early as 300 BCE, and the city began to develop around 200 CE. It flourished around 600 CE, when it became a major urban and cultural center. By 850 CE, evidence shows that the population began to disperse, possibly due to political instability or environmental changes.

Palenque was a powerful ally of the Maya city-state Tikal, and a rival of Calakmul, another major Maya power. In the 7th century CE, Palenque was ruled by one of its most famous kings: K’inich Janaab Pakal I. He and his family were great supporters of the arts and religion. Under their leadership, Palenque became known for its impressive architecture, beautiful carvings, and deep spiritual meaning. The presence of public water systems like aqueducts further supports that Palenque was home to a large, organized population (Fig 1.)

At Palenque, the three temples were each dedicated to a different god and represented spiritual paths to Xibalba, the Maya underworld. The king had to symbolically journey to Xibalba and return with blessings of life and prosperity for his people. In the Temple of the Cross, we see the god Chan-Bahlum facing God L of the Underworld. Behind him, a text records the three-day dedication of the temples on July 23, 690. (Fig 2.) The Temple also shows a symbol of cosmic power; a cross-shaped World Tree with a Celestial Bird at the top and a Serpent Bar of kingship. This tree represents the center of the universe. The king was seen as this cosmic center, acting as both the main ritual leader and the connection between the human world and the gods (Fig 3.)

One of the most famous tombs found in Palenque is that of Lady Tz’akbu Ajaw, also known as the Red Queen. She was buried in Temple XIII, inside a beautifully carved limestone sarcophagus. Her body was covered in cinnabar, a bright red mineral symbolizing rebirth and the rising sun coming out of Xibalba, the Maya underworld (Fig 4.) Her face was covered with a malachite mask with eyes made of limestone and obsidian, giving the impression that she was still watching from the afterlife (Fig 5.) Lady Tz’akbu Ajaw’s tomb also contained two other individuals who were sacrificed to serve her in the next life. These sacrifices were done in private. 

The tomb of King Pakal is just as impressive. He was buried in the Temple of the Inscriptions, a pyramid with nine levels, symbolizing the nine layers of the underworld. Inside, The relief carved on his tomb depicts the king as the Young Maize lord lying on his back representing him as a child of Xmucane and Xpiyacoc, the holy Grandmothers and Grandfathers responsible for creating human life. He lies at the base of a Ceiba tree which represents with its branches the 13 layers of the underworld, and beneath the tree are upside down figures, representing the underworld Xibalba. Above all of this sits a bird representing Itsamná, the revered Lord father of the Gods (Fig 6.) The temple that houses his tomb has 67 steps, representing each year of his reign. At the top is a stone building designed to look like a traditional wood-and-thatch Maya house, linking royalty and the gods to everyday life.