Toltec

The Toltec culture was a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture that ruled a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico, from about 950 to 1150 CE. They lived during the Epiclassic and early Post-Classic period of Mesoamerican history.

Many years later, the Aztec people saw the Toltec as their great teachers and leaders. The Aztec believed that the Toltec were the perfect example of a civilized society and came from a place called Tōllān, which means Tula in the Nahuatl language.

In the Nahuatl language, the word for a Toltec, Tōltēkatl, means "artisan". This shows how skilled and clever the Toltec were thought to be. The Aztec told stories about the Toltec leaders, but today, scholars are not sure how much of these stories are true.

There is also much discussion about why the buildings and art at Tula look so much like those at another place called Chichén Itzá, which was a Maya site. Researchers are still trying to figure out if the Toltec influenced the Maya, or the other way around, or if they just happened to have similar styles.

Origins of society at Tula

The Toltec culture came from a mix of the Nonoalca people and some Chichimeca from northern Mesoamerica. They were also influenced by the nearby Mayan culture. When Teotihuacan was powerful, these people lived in big settlements in the Tula region, like Villagran and Chingu.

Around 650 CE, many of these settlements were left behind after Teotihuacan declined. The Coyotlatelco culture became important, and Tula was founded along with other hilltop communities. Tula Chico grew into a small state with a planned layout and many people. It had special areas like multiple ball courts and pyramids. Later, after Tula Chico was burned and left, Tula Grande was built nearby, becoming a major center.

Archaeology

Some archaeologists think the Toltec culture made special buildings and art. They connect this style to the city of Tula in Hidalgo and see similar designs in other parts of Mesoamerica. These designs include special kinds of artwork, pottery called Tohil plumbate and Silho or X-Fine Orange Ware, and designs found in places like Chichén Itzá. There is debate about how Tula and Chichén Itzá were connected — some think one city controlled the other, while others believe they were just loosely linked.

Another view, from a study in 2003, suggests Tula’s influence was not as strong as that of bigger cities like Teotihuacan and Tenochtitlan. Though Tula was a large and complex city, its reach was limited. Evidence shows Tula was involved in trading, especially with workshops making a valuable material called obsidian.

Material culture at Tula Grande

At its peak, Tula Grande may have had up to 60,000 people and covered a wide area. Important buildings there include pyramids, ball-courts, and large stone figures called the Atlantean figures on top of Pyramid B. The city had special buildings with columns, and one, Building 3, was very important because its design reminded people of their ancestors’ homes.

The city’s layout also showed links to the past, with halls similar to those of Tula’s ancestral peoples. These halls were likely used for trade and meetings with other regions. Goods from far away found in Tula Grande show the Toltec people traded with many places in Mesoamerica. Surveys found many pieces of obsidian, showing Tula was a key spot for this valuable material, possibly continuing a role once held by Teotihuacan. Most of the obsidian in Tula and Chichén Itzá came from the same two places, indicating the cities worked together.

History of research

One of the first people to write about the Toltecs was Diego Durán, a Dominican friar, in the 1500s. He studied the history of the people in Mexico and shared what he found. Durán thought the Toltecs followed a leader called "High Priest Topiltzin." He was known for doing amazing things and teaching others.

Later, in the 1800s, many scholars thought the Toltecs were a big, important empire in Mexico. But some argued that the stories about the Toltecs were just myths or legends, not true history. Some thought the Toltecs were just one of many city-states, not very special. Others thought the Aztec stories about the Toltecs were ways to make their own culture seem better by talking about a "golden age" from the past.

Even today, many historians think the Aztec stories about the Toltecs might be more myth than fact. They wonder if the Aztecs made up or changed the stories to make their own culture look better. Some believe the word "Toltec" really just meant "skilled worker" or "wise person" and not necessarily someone from a specific place. This means the stories about the Toltecs might be more about ideas and myths than real history.