Cholula
Cholula is an ancient city located in Tlaxcala, Mexico, notable for its rich historical and cultural significance. Established during the Preclassic period as a satellite of Teotihuacán, Cholula emerged as a major religious hub, featuring hundreds of temples and the largest pyramid in the Americas. This monumental pyramid was constructed across four stages and is adorned with intricate corridors, frescoes, and various artifacts, including pottery and carvings. The city was governed by a combination of a single ruler and six elected nobles, each responsible for different areas within Cholula. Archaeological findings indicate that it had a sophisticated infrastructure, including ball courts, residential areas, and advanced water management systems. After the decline of Teotihuacán around 650 CE, Cholula continued to thrive until it faced invasions around 800 CE. Despite the turmoil, it remained an important urban center until the arrival of Spanish colonizers, showcasing a resilient legacy intertwined with Mesoamerican history.
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Cholula
Related civilization: Teotihuacán.
Date: 200-700 c.e.
Locale: 10 miles west of Puebla, Mexico
Cholula
Cholula (choh-LEW-lah) was built in Preclassic times as a satellite city of Teotihuacán. It was a large holy city, containing hundreds of temples and a huge pyramid. The pyramid, which is the largest human-made structure in the Americas, was begun in the Preclassic period and underwent four successive stages of building. The pyramid is lined with corridors and contains frescoes, pottery, bones, and carvings. A residential palace near the pyramid contains long murals of lifelike people shown drinking pulque, an alcoholic beverage made from agave.
Cholula was ruled by one man and six elected nobles. Each noble ruled one of six areas of the city. Excavations show that the area, which functioned as a religious center, had ball courts, dwellings, and well-developed systems of terracing and water control.
The city was part of the Teotihuacán corridor, a trade route from the Preclassic period that monitored movement of materials, products, and people across its various cities. Even after the fall of Teotihuacán in 650 c.e., Cholula remained strong and flourished. It was invaded in about 800 c.e. and subsequently ruled by various groups. It continued to be a large and important city until the Spanish invasion.
Bibliography
Ashwell, Anamaría. Cholula: La Ciudad Sagrada. Puebla, Mexico: Volkswagen de México, 1999.
Mountjoy, Joseph B. Man and Land at Prehispanic Cholula. Nashville, Tenn.: Vanderbilt University, 1973.