Mesoamerica Timeline

Paul Kirchhoff coined the term "Mesoamerica" to refer to an area that spoke about 60 languages, but was united by history and certain cultural traits, according to John Pohl of the Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. (FAMSI). The area of Mesoamerica is now covered by the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and El Salvador.

The chronology of Mesoamerica is divided into a Pre-Classic Period, a Classic Period, and a Post Classic Period.

Pre-Classic Period
1500 B.C.-A.D. 300

• Olmec 1200-400 B.C.
• Zapotec 500 B.C.-A.D. 1000
• Maya 1000 B.C.-A.D. 1521
• Teotihuacán A.D. 1-650

Overlaps the:
• Early Formative 2500-1000 B.C.
• Middle Formative 1000-400 B.C.
• Late Formative 400 B.C.-A.D. 250

Classic Period
A.D. 300-950

• Zapotec 500 B.C.-A.D. 1000
• Maya 1000 B.C.-A.D. 1521
• Teotihuacán A.D. 1-650
• El Tajin A.D. 550-1100
• Mixtec A.D. 900-1521

Post Classic Period
A.D. 950-1521

• El Tajin A.D. 550-1100
• Mixtec A.D. 900-1521
• Aztec A.D. 1200-1521

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Mesoamerica Timelines

John Pohl's FAMSI Chronology of Mesoamerica
Chronological Table of Mesoamerican Archaeology