托福古代文明文章翻译第三篇：TPO8阅读1—The Rise of Teotihuacan中美洲文明古城特奥蒂瓦坎的兴起

学科词汇总结words

大城市metropolis

宗教建筑religious edifice

圣殿shrine

行政中心administrative center

作坊workshop

建筑物综合体complex

地理位置geographic location

自然资源natural resource

灌溉irrigation

商品commodity

外来的exotic

移民immigrant

居民inhabitant

文章翻译translation

一、古代文明城市特奥蒂瓦坎城的繁荣景象

The city of Teotihuacán, which lay about 50 kilometers northeast of modern-day Mexico City, began its growth by 200-100 B.C. At its height, between about A.D. 150 and 700, it probably had a population of more than 125,000 people and covered at least 20 square kilometers. It had over 2,000 apartment complexes, a great market, a large number of industrial workshops, an administrative center, a number of massive religious edifices, and a regular grid pattern of streets and buildings. Clearly, much planning and central control were involved in the expansion and ordering of this great metropolis. Moreover, the city had economic and perhaps religious contacts with most parts of Mesoamerica (modern Central America and Mexico).

特奥蒂瓦坎城位于现在的墨西哥城东北约50公里处，起源于公元前200到100年前。在大约在公元150到700年间的鼎盛时期，特奥蒂瓦坎城可能有超过12.5万的人口至少覆盖20平方公里的范围。它拥有超过2,000座公寓大厦、一座大型市场、大量的工业作坊、一个行政管理中心、众多庞大的宗教建筑和规则的街道建筑网络。很明显，这座大城市的扩张过程中包含了很多的规划和集中管理。此外，特奥蒂瓦坎城与中美洲的大部分地区都保持着经济和宗教的联系。

二、特奥蒂瓦坎城崛起的因素：地理位置;灌溉;宗教圣殿

How did this tremendous development take place, and why did it happen in the Teotihuacán Valley? Among the main factors are Teotihuacán’s geographic location on a natural trade route to the south and east of the Valley of Mexico, the obsidian resources in the Teotihuacán Valley itself, and the valley’s potential for extensive irrigation. The exact role of other factors is much more difficult to pinpoint―for instance, Teotihuacán’s religious significance as a shrine, the historical situation in and around the Valley of Mexico toward the end of the first millennium B.C., the ingenuity and foresightedness of Teotihuacán’s elite, and, finally, the impact of natural disasters, such as the volcanic eruptions of the late first millennium B.C.这惊人的发展是如何完成的呢，它为何会发生在特奥蒂瓦坎山谷呢？其中主要的原因就是特奥蒂瓦坎坐落在通向墨西哥谷南部和东部的自然的贸易线路上，特奥蒂瓦坎谷本身拥有的黑曜石资源，还有特奥蒂瓦坎谷大面积灌溉的能力。而其他的因素的作用则很难准确的描绘，例如，特奥蒂瓦坎作为宗教圣地的重要地位，在公元前一千年末期墨西哥谷及其周围地区的历史情况，特奥蒂瓦坎精英们的聪明才智和远见性，以及自然灾害的冲击，比如在公元前一千年后期的火山喷发。

三、特奥蒂瓦坎城崛起的其他原因：周边城市火山爆发

This last factor is at least circumstantially implicated in Teotihuacán’s rise. Prior to 200 B.C., a number of relatively small centers coexisted in and near the Valley of Mexico. Around this time, the largest of these centers, Cuicuilco, was seriously affected by a volcanic eruption, with much of its agricultural land covered by lava. With Cuicuilco eliminated as a potential rival, any one of a number of relatively modest towns might have emerged as a leading economic and political power in Central Mexico. The archaeological evidence clearly indicates, though, that Teotihuacán was the center that did arise as the predominant force in the area by the first century A.D.特奥蒂瓦坎的崛起的最后一个因素比较隐晦。在公元前200年以前，有很多相对较小的城市中心在墨西哥谷和墨西哥谷周围共存着。在此期间最大的城市中心Cuicuilco遭到火山爆发的严重影响，其大部分农田被岩浆覆盖了。随着Cuicuilco这个潜在的竞争对手被淘汰，其他任何一个中等的城镇都可能崛起成为墨西哥中部政治和经济的中心城邦。考古资料清楚的显示出特奥蒂瓦坎就是在公元一世纪时在墨西哥中部崛起的政治和经济中心。

四、特奥蒂瓦坎城崛起的另外一个因素：黑曜石资源丰富

It seems likely that Teotihuacán’s natural resources, along with the city elite’s ability to recognize their potential, gave the city a competitive edge over its neighbors. The valley, like many other places in Mexican and Guatemalan highlands, was rich in obsidian. The hard volcanic stone was a resource that had been in great demand for many years, at least since the rise of the Olmecs (a people who flourished between 1200 and 400 B.C.), and it apparently had a secure market. Moreover, recent research on obsidian tools found at Olmec sites has shown that some of the obsidian obtained by the Olmecs originated near Teotihuacán. Teotihuacán obsidian must have been recognized as a valuable commodity for many centuries before the great city arose.

也许是因为特奥蒂瓦坎的自然资源以及其精英阶层对这些资源的充分开发让这座城市相对于周边城市具有竞争优势。像墨西哥和危地马拉高地的其他地区一样，特奥蒂瓦坎谷也富产黑曜石。这种坚硬的火山石多年来一直是需求旺盛的资源，至少从奥尔梅克人(一个在公元前1200到400年间繁荣的民族)崛起之后是这样的，很显然黑曜石有着一个稳定的市场。此外，最近对奥尔梅克遗址中发掘的黑曜石工具的研究表明，奥尔梅克人所获得的一些黑曜石源自特奥蒂瓦坎地区。在这座伟大的城市崛起之前的数百年，特奥蒂瓦坎的黑曜石一定经被视为贵重的商品了。

五、特奥蒂瓦坎的宗教影响力吸引人们迁移到特奥蒂瓦坎

Long-distance trade in obsidian probably gave the elite residents of Teotihuacán access to a wide variety of exotic good, as well as a relatively prosperous life. Such success may have attracted immigrants to Teotihuacán. In addition, Teotihuacán’s elite may have consciously attempted to attract new inhabitants. It is also probable that as early as 200 B.C. Teotihuacán may have achieved some religious significance and its shrine (or shrines) may have served as an additional population magnet. Finally, the growing population was probably fed by increasing the number and size of irrigated fields.

黑曜石远离的贸易给特奥蒂瓦坎的精英阶层的居民提供了接触各种各样的外来商品和相对繁荣生活的机会。而这也吸引了人们迁移到特奥蒂瓦坎。另外，特奥蒂瓦坎的精英阶层也可能会有意去吸引新的定居者。早在公元前200年前特奥蒂瓦坎就有一定的宗教影响力，而其宗教圣地的地位也吸引了一定的人口。最后人们通过扩大灌溉土地的数量额面积来养活越来越多的人口。

六、特奥蒂瓦坎城崛起的几个因素之间可以良性互动。

The picture of Teotihuacán that emerges is a classic picture of positive feedback among obsidian mining and working, trade, population growth, irrigation, and religious tourism. The thriving obsidian operation, for example, would necessitate more miners, additional manufacturers of obsidian tools, and additional traders to carry the goods to new markets. All this led to increased wealth, which in turn would attract more immigrants to Teotihuacán. The growing power of the elite, who controlled the economy, would give them the means to physically coerce people to move to Teotihuacán and serve as additions to the labor force. More irrigation works would have to be built to feed the growing population, and this resulted in more power and wealth for the elite.

这浮现在人们眼前的是一幅有关特奥蒂瓦坎的黑曜石采矿，加工，贸易，人口增长，灌溉，宗教旅游良性互动的景象。例如，黑曜石交易的繁荣带来更多的矿工和更多的黑曜石工具制造商，以及需要更多的商人将商品运往新的市场。而所有的这一切都增加了人们的财富，而财富的增加又会吸引更多的人迁移到特奥蒂瓦坎。而那些掌控特奥蒂瓦坎经济的精英阶层权力的增加为他们提供了各种手段以迫使人们迁移到特奥蒂瓦坎充当额外的劳动力。于是更多的灌溉工程得以建立来养活不断增加的人口，而这又会进一步增加特奥蒂瓦坎精英阶层的权力和财富。