The term 'Early Mexican' refers to three distinct civilizations that existed in Mexico before the arrival of the Spanish. The Olmecs were the first major civilization in Mesoamerica, and they flourished from around 1200 BCE to 400 BCE. The Aztecs were a powerful empire that dominated much of central Mexico from the 14th to 16th centuries. The Toltecs were a pre-Columbian people who lived in central Mexico from around 900 CE to 1168 CE.