The Influential Pre-Columbian Civilizations: Brief Overview of the Mayan, Inca, and Aztec Empires

Mayan, Inca and Aztecs

The most complex Indian communities living in South America

The Mayan, Inca, and Aztec civilizations are three of the most well-known and influential pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas.

Mayan Civilization:
The Mayan civilization was located in present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras, and was at its peak between 250 AD and 900 AD. They were known as skilled mathematicians, astronomers, and builders, and they had a complex writing system that used hieroglyphics. The Mayans were also known for their religious practices, which included human sacrifice. The Mayans are most famous for their impressive architecture, including the towering pyramids that still stand in Mexico today.

Inca Civilization:
The Inca civilization was located in present-day Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile, and was at its peak between 1438 AD and 1533 AD. The Inca were known for their engineering feats, including building intricate road systems and imposing fortresses. They were also skilled farmers, using terraced farming to grow crops in the mountainous regions where they lived. Their religion was centered around worship of nature and the ruling Inca emperor was considered divine. The Inca civilization was conquered by the Spanish in 1533.

Aztec Civilization:
The Aztec civilization was located in present-day Mexico and was at its peak between 1345 AD and 1521 AD. The Aztecs were known for their impressive agricultural practices, which included building raised gardens known as chinampas. They were also famous for their intricate religious rituals, which often included human sacrifice as a way to appease their gods. The capital of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, was one of the largest and most impressive cities of its time when the Spanish arrived in 1519.

Overall, the Mayan, Inca, and Aztec civilizations were sophisticated and impressive in their own right, leaving a significant mark on the history of the Americas.

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