Historical map · 1000

Map of North America in 1000

In 1000, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 5 states, empires and other polities in North America. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Later Mayan City-States, Puebloans - Chaco Regional System and Classic Veracruz Culture.

See this map live. The interactive map opens on North America in 1000. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.

OPEN 1000 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about 1000

Atlas map: Greenland and Vinland (1021) — FROM THE ATLAS · CLIMATE AND INNOVATION, CHAPTER 4: GREENLAND AND VINLAND (1021)

States and empires in North America in 1000

State	In this region	Whole state	In the data
Later Mayan City-States Wikipedia	136,000 km²	136,000 km²	247 BC–AD 1546
Puebloans - Chaco Regional System Wikipedia	21,000 km²	21,000 km²	850–1304
Classic Veracruz Culture Wikipedia	19,000 km²	19,000 km²	555–1235
Viking settlements Wikipedia	16,000 km²	35,000 km²	793–1332
Toltec Wikipedia	5,620 km²	5,620 km²	875–1187

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What changed since 900

New on the map: Viking settlements.

What comes next: 1100

Appear by 1100: Norse Greenland.

Read the history of 1000

Guided atlas chapters set near this date, each with its own map, causes and consequences:

Greenland and VinlandClimate and Innovation · chapter 4 · 1021

Questions about this map

Which countries were in North America in 1000?

The map data draws 5 states and other polities in North America in 1000. The largest by land were the Later Mayan City-States, Puebloans - Chaco Regional System, Classic Veracruz Culture, Viking settlements and Toltec.

What was the largest empire in North America in 1000?

Of the states on this map, the Later Mayan City-States held the most land in total: about 136,000 km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore North America in 1000 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at 1000, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

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