The pre-Columbian archaeological record in the Americas is conventionally divided into five phases according to an enduring system established in Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips's 1958 book Method and Theory in American Archaeology.

This differs from old world prehistory where the terms Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Bronze Age are generally used.The Classic stage is defined as "early civilizations", and typically dating from 500 to 1200 CE; sometimes to 900 CE.

Willey and Phillips considered only cultures from Mesoamerica and Peru to have achieved this level of complexity.

Examples include the early Maya and the Toltec.

Cultures of the Classic Stage are supposed to possess craft specialization and the beginnings of metallurgy.

Social organization is supposed to involve the beginnings of urbanism and large ceremonial centers.

Ideologically, Classic cultures should have a developed theocracy.

The "Classic Stage" was initially defined as restricted to the complex societies of Mesoamerica and Peru.

However, the time period includes other advanced cultures, such as Hopewell, Teotihuacan, and the early Maya.The "Classic Stage" follows the Formative stage (Pre-Classic) and is superseded by the Post-Classic stage.