Mayan Civilization and Culture

Mayan civilization thrived in Central America and southern Mexico from

about a.d. 300 to a.d. 900. By studying ruins, scientists have learned much
about Mayan civilization.
he Mayans built great cities that !ere also religious centers. !o of these
cities !ere Co"#n $%o &A'() in "resent*day 'onduras and i%al $tee
+A',) in -uatemala. ,arge "yramid*sha"ed tem"les, !here Mayans
!orshi""ed, stood in the center of the cities. Mayan farmers !or%ed in the
fields surrounding the cities.
Science, Technology, and Religion
he most im"ortant Mayan cro" !as maize, or corn, !hich !as the main
food in the Mayan diet. .armers also gre! beans, s/uash, "e""ers,
avocados, and "a"ayas. Mayan "riests studied the stars and "lanets and
designed an accurate calendar, !hich they used to decide !hen to hold
religious ceremonies. hey also develo"ed a system of !riting using signs
and symbols called hierogly"hics $hy ur oh -,0. i%s) along !ith a number
system similar to the "resent*day decimal system.
he -reat Mystery of the Mayas About a.d. 900, the Mayas suddenly left
their cities, but no one %no!s !hy. Cro" failures, !ar, disease, drought, or
famine may have %illed many, or "erha"s "eo"le rebelled against the
control of the "riests and nobles. he Mayas left their cities, but stayed in
the region and millions of them still live in the countries of Mexico, Belize,
-uatemala, 'onduras, and 1l 2alvador.
Aztec Civilization and Culture
Another ancient civilization is that of the Aztecs. hey arrived in the 3alley
of Mexico in the 4400s. he 3alley of Mexico is in Central Mexico and
includes the site of the "resent day Mexico city.
he Aztecs found a "ermanent home in 4356 !hen they settled on an
island in ,a%e excoco. hey changed the s!am"y la%e into a magnificent
city, !hich they called enochtitl#n $tay na!ch tee ,A'(). enochtitl#n
stood on the site of "resent*day Mexico City.
The Aztecs Expand Their Empire
0n the 4700s, Aztec !arriors con/uered other "eo"le in the region. hey
forced the "eo"le they con/uered to "ay tribute, or taxes. ribute !as "aid
in food, cotton, gold, or slaves. he Aztecs gre! rich from the tribute.
An em"eror ruled over all Aztec lands and their society had several
classes. (obles and "riests hel"ed the em"eror, !arriors fought battles,
and traders carried goods throughout the em"ire and beyond. Craft!or%ers
created 8e!elry, garments, "ottery, scul"tures, and other goods. Most
"eo"le, ho!ever, !ere farmers.
Aztec Science and Technology
enochtitl#n !as a center of trade and learning. Aztec doctors made more
than 4,000 medicines from "lants. Aztec astronomers "redicted ecli"ses
and the movements of "lanets. Aztec "riests %e"t records using
hierogly"hics similar to those used by the Mayas.
Incan Civilizations and Culture
0n about 4500, the 0ncas settled in Cuzco $+992 %oh), a village in the
Andes that is no! a city in the country of &eru. Most 0ncas !ere farmers
!ho gre! maize and other cro"s. hrough !ars and con/uest, the 0ncas
!on control of the entire Cuzco 3alley, one of many valleys that extend
from the Andes to the &acific 9cean.
At one time, the 0ncan 1m"ire stretched some 5,600 miles $7,053 %m) from
!hat is no! 1cuador south along the &acific coast through &eru, Bolivia,
Chile, and Argentina. he 45 million "eo"le ruled by the 0ncas lived mostly
in small villages and their descendants still live in "resent*day &eru,
1cuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Colombia. hey s"ea% :uechua $+1C' !ah),
the 0ncan language.
Incan Accomplishments
he 0ncan ca"ital, Cuzco, !as the center of government, trade, learning,
and religion. he em"eror and the nobles !ho hel"ed him run the em"ire
lived in the city near the central "laza. Most of the farmers and !or%ers
lived outside Cuzco in mud huts.
he 0ncas !ere excellent farmers, builders, and managers. hey built more
than 49,000 miles $30,6;; %m) of roads. he roads !ent over some of the
most mountainous land in the !orld. his road system hel"ed the 0ncas to
govern their vast em"ire. hey increased their farmland by building stone
terraces into the sides of stee" slo"es and a/ueducts, "i"es or channels
designed to carry !ater from a distant source. A/ueducts allo!ed the 0ncas
to irrigate land to gro! cro"s.
he 0ncas sha"ed their stones so !ell that they did not need cement to
hold a !all together.