Question

Teotihuacan is significant because:

A) it served as the Aztec capital before they moved to Tenochtitlan
B) it served as an important economic, social, and religious center in classical Mesoamerica
C) it was eventually conquered by the Spanish, leading to a large population of mestizos in the region
D) it remained isolated from the other classical cities of Central and South America, unlike other major cities at the time

Answer 1

Teotihuacan is significant as a major economic, social, and religious hub in classical Mesoamerica, influencing trade and culture throughout the region. Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Step-by-step explanation:

Teotihuacan is significant because it served as an important economic, social, and religious center in classical Mesoamerica. This ancient city, located about thirty miles northeast of modern Mexico City, was one of the largest population centers in pre-Columbian America with over 100,000 inhabitants around 500 CE. The city was a hub for trade, extending to settlements on Mesoamerica's Gulf Coast and dominating trade in obsidian, salt, cotton, cacao, and marine shells, influencing cultures such as the Zapotec and Maya.

Teotihuacan's wealth and regional influence came from the trade of crafts, agricultural products, obsidian tools, cloth, ceramics, and artwork. Although it experienced a decline in the sixth and seventh centuries CE, its cultural legacies endured in the region.