Week 12

Urban Spain: A Virtual Analysis

Tenochtitlan: A Virtual Tour

Hi readers!

This week we will investigate the reasoning behind building the colonial Spanish capital upon the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. The Spanish conquered the ancient city in the early 1500s where it was systematically destroyed in order to construct the modern capital of Mexico City. Google Maps will allow us to virtually travel to the site and observe the scale and form. Furthermore, we will consider possible reasoning’s and the significance for such an undertaking, thus concluding if it was at all necessary.

Birds eye view over looking the center of Mexico City (screenshot from Google Maps)

When observing the remains of Tenochtitlan it is difficult to imagine that it was once a thriving empire boasting the largest city during the Pre-Columbian era. Due to its situation today, it is easier to observe the ancient city through the drawing below. The city was built on an island on Lake Texcoco (drained over the years), which was connected to mainland via three causeways leading north, south, and west from the city center or Sacred Precinct. The Templo Mayor marks the eastern side of the Sacred Precinct. The causeways turned into bridges at the water, allowing for water traffic to pass without interruption. Furthermore, these bridges could be drawn back for defense purposes.

Tenochtitlan (Aztec capital) - http://mexicanhistory.org/tenochtitlan2.jpg 

The arrival of the Spanish came in 1519 during the capitals peak in power and size. They were in awe at the beauty and scale of the city, which they compared to Seville when he described it in a letter to the Spanish King. 

It is hard to imagine the sheer size of the ancient center as the modern buildings from the post-contact era now engulf it. However, when viewing the map we can clearly make out the colonial center of Mexico that was built on top of the Sacred Precinct. The Plaza Mayor becomes the new center and is surrounded with European style buildings while catholic churches take the place of the previous temples. They kept the quadrant layout of the ancient city, giving the modern city an organized grid layout as it grew outwards.

Plaza Mayor today (Google maps screenshot)

The significance for building the Spanish colonial center on top of the Aztec capital is for the size and power of the ancient city. It’s layout was organized and based on quadrants, which appealed to the Spanish in order to exude and organize power. Additionally, in order to fully conquer Tenochtitlan, the center of the powerful Aztec empire, the Spanish would have to erase all traces of the old order. Therefore, it was necessary for the Spanish to destroy and rebuild the Aztec capital to facilitate their power and drive out the old order and its cultural influences.

That’s all for this week folks!

-Mays

Tula and Chichen Itza: A Virtual Analysis

Hello fellow bloggers!

This week we will be travelling via Google Maps to two different sites; Pyramid B at Tula and the Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza. Both temples are very comparable in construction thus indicating the notion of cultural contact between the two empires, particularly the invasion by the Toltec’s on Chichen Itza. We will examine the similarities and differences between both sites before drawing a conclusion on the relevancy of a Toltec occupation of Chichen Itza.

Pyramid B located in the Toltec site of Tula is a step pyramid that approached by a broad stairway. At the top of the pyramid stand four colossal Atlantean columns representing Toltec warriors. Scholars conclude they once served at pillars to support the roof of a temple that stood atop the pyramid. Each level signifies different motifs of varying deity figures, such as the feathered serpent or jaguar. Furthermore, a large series of columns occupy the surrounding area of the pyramid, which originally supported a tremendous enclosed space.

Pyramid B, Tula 

The Temple of the Warriors is located in the Yucatán site of Chichen Itza. It is a large stepped pyramid that features a number of similarities with Pyramid B. The temple consists of four platforms, flanked on the south and west sides by 200 round and square columns. All square columns are carved in low relief, with Toltec warriors – one of the major indications of contact between the groups. Like Pyramid B it is approached through a broad staircase leading up to columns that once supported a rooftop. Unlike Pyramid B, these columns represent serpents as opposed to the Toltec warriors. However, although the serpent was commonly used with the Maya, it was much more common with the Toltec’s, thus another significant connection.  

Temple of the Warriors, Chichen Itza

In brief, the similarities between these two temples are the flat step pyramid, centered broad staircase, surrounding colonnades that once supported an enormous enclosed space, columns featured on the top of each pyramid, and the carved representations of Toltec warriors. The differences include the size of the temples. The Temple of the Warriors was constructed on a much grander scale than Pyramid B at Tula.

After considering the features of both temples, it becomes clear that there must have been some sort of contact between the two powerful empires. They share architectural elements not found in other Maya or Toltec sites. The pillars inscribed with Toltec warriors in Chichen Itza are an important indicator of this. These bases of comparison are undisputed, however a conclusion cannot be established because the exact relationship between the two areas remains unknown. Moreover, the depictions of the feathered serpent deities in Chichen Itza are more in line with Toltec cultures rather than Maya culture.

This topic remains major within Mesoamerican studies and research because this connection remains the sole type that share a similar building construction and symbolic representation between two different cities, let alone different cultures.

There’s a thought to leave you guys with!

Until next week,

Mays

Teotihuacan: A Virtual Analysis

Hello readers!

This week we travel virtually to the ancient city of Teotihuacan, located in the Valley of Mexico just 20 to 30 miles north of Mexico City. The site holds a lot of prestige in Mesoamerica as the rulers of Teotihuacan went out and expanded their territories far beyond the boundaries of Central Mexico, making it a very powerful empire during its prime. Today, I will be taking you on a virtual tour of the city where we will visit two major sites, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. We will be travelling along the Avenue of the Dead via Google street maps which runs north south, starting in front of the Pyramid of the Sun and working our way north towards the Pyramid of the Moon.

Starting on the Avenue of the Dead, we face east in front of the Pyramid of the Sun. Here it is difficult to ignore the sheer size of the structure. The pyramid is so empowering as it incorporates and takes up a lot of space. Even through the computer screen I feel intimidated by the splendor of the structure.

Facing East, Pyramid of the Sun 

From here we head north. Regardless of the distance, the Pyramid of the Moon looks large as it dominates the tail end of the Avenue. The size and shape of the pyramid mirrors the mountain behind it. In Mesoamerica it was common for structures to reflect the environment surrounding the area. The framing mountain exaggerates the size of the pyramid so that even when viewing from far away, it still appears daunting.

Facing North towards Pyramid of the Moon (in front of the Pyramid of the Sun)

Walking North along the Avenue of the Dead 

The sizes of both pyramids are substantially larger than the surrounding structures. They have a presence that is immediately known from within the city. The avenue of the dead represents the north south axis with the Pyramid of the moon on the north side, while the pyramid of the sun is positioned to create the east west axis. Together their placements create a cosmological map, and with the mirroring of the mountains behind each pyramid, they bridge the gaps between people, the earth and the divine. 

In front of the Pyramid of the Moon

*All photos are screenshots taken on Google Maps*

Colonial Architecture

Hello Bloggers!

This week’s topic will be based on the architecture of colonialism that is evident in a number of historical centers around the world. Specifically, we will look at the Roman colonial center of Timgad (Thamugadi) and the Wari military center of Pikillacta. Each was built on the frontiers of their respective empires and embodies important cultural and societal values. A comparative analysis of both structures will provide a clear understanding of how space and place provided a number of challenges for the occupying forces as well as provide a social hierarchy within the structure itself.

Located on the northern slopes of the Aures Mountains, Timgad provides a brilliant example of Roman town planning at its height. Initially influenced by the Greek, the Roman order eventually developed its own approach to planning that was characterized by unity with large square blocks, strong grid lines and the forum usually placed on the crossing of two major axes. The Timgad grid consists a total of 144 blocks, divided evenly into four parts. The forum takes up eleven blocks, the baths take up eight, and six blocks make up the theatre. Any additional buildings were developed outside the grid. The Emperor Trajan constructed Timgad, strategically sited at the intersection of six roads, as a military colony in AD 100 and was frequently restored during the course of the Empire. The site was intended strictly for the use of Roman soldiers as a reward for their 25 years of service. One significant aspect to note about the site is the public lavatory, which was positioned over a channel where rainwater flowed and flushed away the waste. This is a great example of refined Roman engineering and contributes to the Roman order of the structure.

Timgad: http://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/524/flashcards/2219524/jpg

The site of Pikillacta is located in the Lucre Basin of Peru at the east end of the valley of Cuzco. From a birds eye view the structure gives off the illusion that it is developed on a flat surface, where in fact the site is constructed over an elevated area with a 90m difference. Like the Timgad, Pikillacta is based on a grid design that almost forms the perfect rectangle. The site also has an impressive water system like Timgad that connects its water resources to vast fields and terraces in the Lucre Basin. This allowed for the cultivation of potatoes, maize and other crops. The exact function and reason behind the construction of Pikillacta still remains unknown, and unlike Timgad, there is no evidence of human occupancy. However, there has been scholarly speculation that it was used as either a military base or religious center for ritualistic activities. Whichever, the case, the sheer size of the structure and complex engineering involved speaks to the power of the Wari Empire at the time.

Pikillacta: http://coloradocollege.edu/dept/an/TorresRouff/AN203/AN203nomura/WEBSITE/pictures/image-Pikillacta.jpg 

Both sites discussed share some similarities in terms of their design and engineering. They both follow a rigid grid plan, which illustrate an almost identical blueprint when viewed together. The Roman and Wari Empire were clearly very skilled engineers considering the complex water systems found on both sites. Some difference include the functions behind the. Although they both acted as centers that exuded colonial power during their respective height, Timgad was more residential while Pikillacta was used for ritualistic events.

Thats all for this week! 

-M 

Rome: A Virtual Tour

Rome is a city of cultural heritage that boasts a large number of impressive architectural sites. For this weeks blog post I will be taking a virtual tour of Italy's capital with the help of Google maps street view. I will base my route on Take Off Guides walking tour of Ancient and Imperial Rome.

I travelled to Rome a couple summers ago when I took a high school course abroad. While there we visited some important historic sites that were part of the itinerary designed for us by the school. However, most of us, including myself, didn't have previous knowledge of the sites we were set out to see, nor did we have any control over which places we were to visit, so naturally I was very excited to take on this assignment.

The walking tour starts off at the Circo Massimo, a long rectangular green that was once used to house sporting events. From there I head northeast crossing the Piazza di Porta Capena and up Via de San Gregorio where the stunning Arch of Constantine, with the monumental Colosseum to the right, greets me. The guide book goes into great historic detail for both these structures, providing the reader with extensive knowledge from when it was built to its present day uses. Additionally, the book thoroughly describes both sites and their physical location. For example, it illustrates the Arch of Constantine as a "gateway, welcoming visitors into the fold of this historic site," when approached by way of the Via de San Gregorio. For the Colloseum it describes, "its monumental proportions rising up majestically and towering over its surroundings." The books description of the physicality of these structures is accurate as I view them virtually on Google Maps.

Arch Constantine - Source: http://www.mmdtkw.org/RT04ArchConstantine.jpg 

Moving on down the Via dei Fori Imperialli, the Roman Forum quickly comes to view on my left. As I virtually walk down the street, I am in awe of the juxtaposition between the ancient ruins on my left and the modern-day cars "passing" by on the paved streets. As I switch to a birds eye view and scan over the Forum, I cant help but imagining how the ancient romans lived, re-constructing what was left of the site in my mind.

Roman Forum - Source: http://www.destination360.com/europe/italy/images/s/italy-roman-forum.jpg

From the Roman Forum we move on to the Imperial Forums or Fori Imperiali. The guidebook highlights the Forum of Caesar, the Forum of Augustus, and the Forum of Peace with very little detail unfortunately. The book spends a little more time on the Trajan Forum, however I am still lost in terms of information and the significance behind this site.

My last stop is the Colonna Trianna or Trajan Column, which stands close to the Trajan Forum and surrounding markets. This column rises 40 ft into the air and signifies the many military victories of Emperor Trajan. The guidebook illustrates this column with great detail of both its physical appearance and historical context.

Trajan Column - Source: http://images.travelpod.com/tripwow/photos/ta-00bc-2d5e-e827/trajan-s-column-rome-italy+1152_12912415803-tpfil02aw-28637.jpg

After concluding my virtual tour, I am left educated about some of Rome's ancient structures I hadn't even heard about before. By using  Google maps, I was able to really grasp and see what the book was describing and I really recommend this method to anyone who wants to truly get to know a city without visiting it, or even if you are planning a trip this is a great way to do so.

I think the guidebook was very well routed - all sites followed a linear path and were very close to each other. Additionally, it provided me with extensive knowledge of the historical context of each site as well as the physicality of them. I was a little confused when it came to the Imperial Forums because of the lack of information provided. Overall, I would definitely consider this walking tour if I were to ever travel to Rome again.

That's it for this week! Until next time...

-Mays