Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/585

Bk. II. Ch. II. central AMERICA. 569 CHAPTER II. CENTRAL AMERICA. CONTENTS. Historical Notice — Central American style — Temples — Palaces — Buildings at Palenque — Uxmal, &c. ^ rpHE Valley of Mexico, in which the first group of buildings we -L have to describe is situated, is a small tract in the centre of the table-land of Anahuac. Though not larger tlian Yorkshire, and one- third of it permanently under water, it was, at the time we first became acquainted with it, divided into three or four small States, which, notwithstanding continual wars among themselves, had man- aged to acquire a considerable degree of material prosperity. After making every allowance for the exaggeration of the Spanish and native historians, the remains of the Aztec capitals attest an amount of population and a degree of organization which it is impossible to overlook or deny, and it seems that it was at their last moment that this development was greatest ; for, immediately before the Spanish Conquest, all the States of the valley, tired of their ruinous wars, had joined their forces together, and, thus combined, ])roved more than a match for any of the surrounding States. They spread their arms and influence to the Mexican Gulf, penetrated to the shores of the Pacific, and on one occasion are even said to have crossed the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and reached the confines of Guatemala. These last expeditions 'seem to have been undertaken merely to obtain prisoners for their liorrid rites of human sacrifice, of which they were becoming passionately fond ; and they made no settlement in these countries sufficient to influence either their arts or institu- tions in any way. Shortly after this the conquest of the Spaniards xuider Cortez put an end to the kingdom and power of the Aztecs for ever. The principal moninnents of the valley are the Teocallis — literally Houses of God — the Temples of the people. These are pyramids in terraces with flat tops, and always surmounted by a chamber or cell which is in fact the temple itself. They seem to be of all ages, for if one may trust the tradition, that of Cholulu is as old as the eai'ly Toltecs, whereas the great teocalli of the city of Mexico was only finished five years before the discovery of America by Columbus, and the Spaniards met with many persons who had assisted in its ei-ec-