Classic stage

Early Classic, Maya, Stela, A.D. 300–500

Late Classic, Maya, Dignitary, A.D. 600–800

The Classic Stage is a theoretical archaeological term applied to North and Meso-American societies that existed between CE 500 and 1200. This stage is the fourth of five stages posited by Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips' 1958 book Method and Theory in American Archaeology.^[1]

Cultures of the Classic Stage are supposed to possess craft specialization and the beginnings of metallurgy. Social organization is supposed to involve the beginnings of urbanism and large ceremonial centers. Ideologically, Classic cultures should have a developed theocracy.^[2]

The "Classic Stage" was initially defined as restricted to the complex societies of Mesoamerica and Peru. However, the time period includes other advanced cultures, such as Hopewell, Teotihuacan, and the early Maya.

The "Classic Stage" followed the Formative stage (Pre-Classic) and was superseded by the Post-Classic stage.^[3]

The Lithic stage
The Archaic stage
The Formative stage
The Classic stage
The Post-Classic stage

References

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↑ Gordon R. Willey and Philip Phillips (1957). Method and Theory in American Archaeology. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-89888-9.
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[1] Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

[2] Gordon R. Willey and Philip Phillips (1957). Method and Theory in American Archaeology. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-89888-9.

[3] Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Pre-Columbian civilizations and cultures
Americas	Paleo-Indians · Genetic history · Archaeology of the Americas · Indigenous peoples of the Americas
North America	North American pre-Columbian cultures – Caddoan Mississippian – Chichimeca – Hopewell tradition – Coles Creek – Fremont – Marksville – Mississippian – Mogollon – Plaquemine – Plum Bayou – Poverty Point – Troyville – Weeden Island
Mesoamerica	Mesoamerican pre-Columbian chronology – Capacha – Cholula – Coclé – Epi-Olmec – Huastec – Izapa – Mezcala – Mixtec – Olmec – Pipil – Quelepa – Shaft tomb tradition – Teuchitlan – Purépecha – Teotihuacan – Tlatilco – Tlaxcaltec – Toltec – Totonac – Veracruz – Xochipala – Zapotec
South America	South American Indigenous people – Pre-Columbian chronology – Cañaris – Chachapoya – Chancay – Chavín – Chimú – El Abra – Hydraulic culture of mounds (Bolivia) – Las Vegas – Lima – La Tolita (Tumaco) – Manteño-Guancavilca – Mapuche – Moche – Mollo – Muisca (Chibchas) – Nariño – Nazca – Norte Chico – Quimbaya – San Agustín – Shuar – Sican – Taíno – Tairona – Tiwanaku – Tierradentro – Valdivia – Wari
	Aztec	Maya civilization	Inca Empire – Andean civilizations
Language	Nahuatl	Mayan languages	Quechua
Writing	Aztec writing	Maya script	Quipu
Religion	Aztec religion	Maya religion	Inca religion
Mythology	Aztec mythology	Maya mythology	Inca mythology
Calendar	Aztec calendar	Maya calendar
Society	Aztec society	Maya society	Inca society
Infrastructure	Chinampas	Maya architecture	Inca architecture (road system) Incan agriculture
History	Aztec history		Inca history Neo-Inca State
People	Moctezuma I Moctezuma II Cuitláhuac Cuauhtémoc	K'inich Janaab' Pakal Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil Jasaw Chan K'awiil I	Manco Cápac Pachacuti Atahualpa Manco Inca Yupanqui Túpac Amaru II
Conquest	Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (Hernán Cortés)	Spanish conquest of the Maya Spanish conquest of Yucatán (Francisco de Montejo) Spanish conquest of Guatemala (Pedro de Alvarado)	Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire (Francisco Pizarro)
See also
Portal:Indigenous peoples of North America – Portal:Mesoamerica – Columbian Exchange – Mesoamerican writing systems – Native American cuisine – Native American pottery – Population history of indigenous peoples of the Americas – Pre‑Columbian art – Painting in the Americas before European colonization

v t e Pre-Columbian North America
Periods Lithic Archaic Formative Classic Post-Classic
Archaeological cultures	Adena Alachua Ancient Pueblo (Anasazi) Baytown Belle Glade Buttermilk Creek Complex Caborn-Welborn Calf Creek Caloosahatchee Clovis Coles Creek Deptford Folsom Fort Ancient Fort Walton Fremont Glacial Kame Glades Hohokam Hopewell List of Hopewell sites Leon-Jefferson Mississippian List of Mississippian sites Mogollon Monongahela Old Cordilleran Oneota Paleo-Arctic Paleo-Indians Patayan Plano Plaquemine Poverty Point Red Ocher Santa Rosa-Swift Creek St. Johns Steed-Kisker Tchefuncte Tocobaga Troyville
Archaeological sites	Angel Mounds Bandelier National Monument The Bluff Point Stoneworks Cahokia Casa Grande Chaco Canyon Coso Rock Art District Crystal River Archaeological State Park Eaker Effigy Mounds National Monument Etowah Indian Mounds Eva Folsom Site Fort Ancient Fort Center Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument Holly Bluff Site Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Kincaid Mounds Kolomoki Mounds Marksville Meadowcroft Rockshelter Mesa Verde Moorehead Circle Moundville Mummy Cave Nodena Site Ocmulgee National Monument Old Stone Fort Parkin Park Pinson Mounds Portsmouth Earthworks Poverty Point Pueblo Bonito Recapture Canyon Rock Eagle Rock Hawk Russell Cave National Monument Salmon Ruins Serpent Mound Spiro Mounds SunWatch Taos Pueblo Toltec Mounds Town Creek Indian Mound Winterville Wupatki National Monument
Miscellaneous	Black drink Buhl Woman Ceremonial pipe Chunkey Clovis point Container Revolution Eastern Agricultural Complex Eden point Effigy mound Falcon dancer Folsom point Green Corn Ceremony Horned Serpent Kennewick Man Kiva Medicine wheel Metallurgy Mi'kmaq hieroglyphic writing Mound Builders N.A.G.P.R.A. Norse colonization of the Americas Piasa Southeastern Ceremonial Complex Stickball Three Sisters agriculture Thunderbird Underwater panther Water glyphs
Related Genetic history Portal of Indigenous peoples of North America Pre-Columbian era

v t e Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest
Archaeological sites	Paisley Caves Fort Rock Cave Kennewick Man Marmes Rockshelter Xá:ytem
Ethnicities	Aleutian Bannock Cahto Cayuse Chinook Coast Salish Coeur d' Alene Colville Dakelh (Carrier) Gitxsan Haida Haisla Heiltsuk Inuit Kalapuya Klamath Kutenai (Ktunaxa) Kwakwaka'wakw Makah Methow Miwok Molala Naukan Nez Perce Nicola Nisga'a Nlaka'pamux (Thompson) Nuu-chah-nulth Nuxalk (Bella Coola) Quileute Secwepemc (Shuswap) Shasta Sinixt Sinixt (Lake) St'at'imc (Lillooet) Syilx Tahltan Takelma Tlingit Tsetsaut Tsilhqot'in (Chilcotin) Tsimshian Umatilla Umpqua Walla Walla Wuikinuxv Yupik
Languages	Athabaskan
People	Chief Garry Chief Joseph Sarah Winnemucca Annie Miner Peterson Coquelle Thompson Sacagawea Randy'L He-dow Teton Chief Nicola Maquinna Chief Concomly Wickaninnish Cumshewa Simon Gunanoot Slumach Sealth Leschi Chief Tonasket August Jack Khatsahlano Joe Capilano Harriet Nahanee Annie York Chief Dan George Bill Reid
Places	Celilo Falls Cascades Rapids Kettle Falls Siwash Rock Tseax Lava Bed Memorial
Towns and villages	Skedans Ninstints Cumshewa Masset Skidegate 'Yalis (Alert Bay) Lax Kw'alaams Lax Ksiluux 'Ksan Gingolx Kitwanga X̱wemelch'stn Kiix?in Yuquot Opitsaht Old Man House
Armed conflicts	Cayuse War Modoc War Yakima War Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War Fraser Canyon War Puget Sound War Chilcotin War Tonquin incident Nicola's War
Court cases and treaties	Boldt Decision Sohappy v. Smith Delgamuukw v British Columbia Nisga'a Treaty
Modern issues	Land claims
Miscellaneous	Bridge of the Gods (geologic event) Reservations in Oregon Raven Tales

Classic stage

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