city state · Mesoamerica and the Caribbean

Toltec state

900 CE – 1150 CE (approx.) · capital Tula

The Early Postclassic power centred on Tula in Hidalgo, remembered by the Aztecs as the model of civilisation, artistry and legitimate kingship.

Origins

Tula, or Tollan, grew in the 9th century in the valley of the Tula river in Hidalgo, settled by migrants from the north and from the Valley of Mexico. By about 900 it had become the largest city of central Mexico, with a population of perhaps 40,000 or more.

Rule and society

Tula Grande, the ceremonial core, held Pyramid B crowned by colossal stone warrior figures (the Atlanteans), colonnaded halls, ballcourts and a skull rack. Its art stressed military orders, feathered serpents and sacrifice. Obsidian from Pachuca was a key resource. Later Aztec traditions told of the priest-king Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl and the last ruler Huemac, but these accounts are legendary.

Decline and legacy

Tula was burnt and its rule collapsed around 1150, and its people dispersed. Later dynasties such as Culhuacan and the Aztec Empire claimed Toltec descent to legitimise their power, making 'Toltec' a byword for skilled craftsmen.

Lineage

Toltec stateCulhuacan 1150 CE – 1521 CE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Toltec state. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/toltec-state
MLA
“Toltec state.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/toltec-state. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Toltec state.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/toltec-state.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Toltec state’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/toltec-state (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻