Part 7/8:
Despite its flourishing status as a major Mesoamerican power, Teotihuacan faced decline due to environmental catastrophes, notably the eruption of the Ilopango supervolcano in the sixth century. This environmental crisis likely resulted in agricultural disruptions leading to food shortages and civil unrest. Archaeological evidence points towards a targeted burning of the city’s central structures, indicating a loss of faith in the ruling class or the gods themselves.
As the city crumbled, its powerful influence on neighboring cultures persisted. Both the Maya and the Aztecs continued to venerate the deities and rituals central to Teotihuacan, embedding its legacy within their own religious practices.