Toltec
 Map of the Toltec culture (in dark green). Lighter green signifies their area of influence. | |
| Religion | Toltec religion |
|---|---|
| Language | Nahuatl, Otomi |
| Geographical range | Mesoamerica (historically) |
| Period | Postclassic Period |
| Dates | c. 950–1168 AD |
| Major sites |  Tollan-Xicocotitlan (capital), Huapalcalco |
| Preceded by |  Teotihuacan, Calakmul, Mezcala culture, Otomi, Chupícuaro, Coba, Chichen Itza, Puuc |
| Followed by | League of Mayapan, Totonacapan, Azcapotzalco, Acolhua,  Ecatepec, Chalco |
| Cause of collapse | Arrival of Chichimec peoples who conquered Tula |
The Toltec culture (/ˈtɒltɛk/) was a pre-Columbian Mesoamerican culture that ruled a state centered in Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico, during the Epiclassic and the early Post-Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, reaching prominence from 950 to 1150 AD. The later Aztec culture considered the Toltec to be their intellectual and cultural predecessors and described Toltec culture emanating from Tōllān [ˈtoːlːãːn̥] (Nahuatl for Tula) as the epitome of civilization. In the Nahuatl language the word Tōltēkatl [toːɬˈteːkat͡ɬ] (singular) or Tōltēkah [toːɬˈteːkaḁ] (plural) came to take on the meaning "artisan". The Aztec oral and pictographic tradition also described the history of the Toltec Empire, giving lists of rulers and their exploits.
Modern scholars debate whether the Aztec narratives of Toltec history should be given credence as descriptions of actual historical events. While all scholars acknowledge that there is a large mythological part of the narrative, some maintain that, by using a critical comparative method, some level of historicity can be salvaged from the sources. Others maintain that continued analysis of the narratives as sources of factual history is futile and hinders access to learning about the culture of Tula.
Other controversies relating to the Toltec include the question of how best to understand the reasons behind the perceived similarities in architecture and iconography between the archaeological site of Tula and the Maya site of Chichén Itzá. Researchers are yet to reach a consensus in regard to the degree or direction of influence between these two sites.