Classic stage facts for kids

The Classic Stage is a way archaeologists talk about ancient societies in North and Mesoamerica. It's like a time period, usually from about 500 AD to 1200 AD. This idea comes from a book written in 1958 by two archaeologists, Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips. It's the fourth of five main stages they described for these ancient cultures.

What Made Cultures "Classic"?

Cultures in the Classic Stage had some special features. People started to become experts at making specific things, like pottery or tools. This is called craft specialization. They also began to work with metals, which is known as metallurgy.

How Societies Were Organized

Societies during this time started to grow bigger. They built large cities, a process called urbanism. These cities often had huge ceremonial centers. These were special places for religious events or important community gatherings.

Beliefs and Leadership

Many Classic cultures had a strong religious leadership. This is called a theocracy. It means that religious leaders also held political power. Their beliefs were a big part of how their societies were run.

Where Did Classic Cultures Exist?

The idea of the "Classic Stage" first focused on complex societies in Mesoamerica (like parts of Mexico and Central America) and Peru in South America. But this time period also includes other advanced cultures in North America. These include the Hopewell culture, the city of Teotihuacan, and the early Maya people.

The Stages of Ancient American History

The Classic Stage fits into a larger timeline of ancient American history. It came after the Formative stage (sometimes called Pre-Classic). It was then followed by the Post-Classic stage.

There are other ways to classify these ancient times too. For example, the Classic Stage overlaps with what some experts call the Woodland period and the Mississippian cultures in North America.

Here are the five main stages described by Willey and Phillips:

• The Lithic stage (very early hunter-gatherers)
• The Archaic stage (more settled hunter-gatherers)
• The Formative stage (early farming and villages)
• The Classic stage (complex societies, cities, and specialized crafts)
• The Post-Classic stage (later complex societies before European arrival)

See also

In Spanish: Periodo Clásico de América para niños