MesoAmerican and Aegean Architecture

Mayan

Centered in Teotihuacan and their capital city is Tikal.

Aztec

Settle in Lake Texcoco and founded the town of Tenochtitlan, which is considered as the Venice of the Americans.

Inca

Centered in the city of Cusco.

Thatched Roof

Made from local materials such as palm leaves and to protect them from rain and sun.

Wattle and Daub Walls

Often constructed from wooden poles or logs used as basic structure to suppor walls and roof.

Central Hearth

A fire pit which was common for a mayan house.

Astronomical and Religious

Influence on the orientation of the house of mayans.

Chichen Itza

One of the largest Maya cities, it was a major pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people during the Terminal Classic period. It had the most diverse population in the Maya world, a factor that may have contributed to the variety of architectural styles found at the site.

El Castillo (Castle)

It is also known as the Pyramid of Kukulcan.

El Castillo (Castle)

Tikal Temple 1

Tikal Temple 1

It is the designation given to one of the major structures at Tikal. It is also known as the Temple of the Great Jaguar because of a lintel that represents a king sitting upon a jaguar throne.

Teotihuacan

Approximately 30 miles northeast of modern-day Mexico. It is the ancient Mesoamerican archaeological site. It is renowned for its towering architecture, striking urban design, and cultural significance.

Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico

Largest Pyramid in Teotihuacan. It is the THIRD largest ancient pyramid in the world.

Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico

Located at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead. It is dedicated to the Great Goddess. Built around the same time as the Pyramid of the Sun, it is smaller but holds cultural and religious importance. The complex serves as a significant ceremonial center for the ancient inhabitants of Teotihuacan.

Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico

Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico

Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan, Mexico

The main monuments of the city. It is believed to have been payved with tombs.

Chinampas

A tiny, man-made island that is immovable and was constructed for farming in a freshwater lake. It relies on small, rectangular plots of fertile arable ground to cultivate crops on the shallow lake beds in the Valley of Mexico.

Codex Borbonicus

It is an Aztec codex written by Aztec priests shortly before or after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.

The Bourbon Palace (Palais Bourbon) in Paris, France

Who is the Codex Borbinicus named after?

Tenochtitlan

Was a large Mexican “altepetl” in what is now the historic center of Mexico City. It was the capital city of the Aztec Empire and one of the largest and most magnificent cities in the pre-Columbian Americas.

Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan, Mexico

The main temple of the Mexica people in their capital city, Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City. its architectural style belongs to the late Postclassic period of Mesoamerica.

Inca

Existed along the western coast of modern-day South America and their city was Cusco in what is now Peru.

Machu Picchu

Situated in the Andres Mountains of Peru. It stands as a remarkable example of Inca Engineering and architecture.

Machu Picchu in Andres Mountains, Peru

Inca Trail

Is a network of ancient paths in Peu, primarily known for connecting the city of Cusco to the iconic Machu Picchu. This trail served a vital route for the Inca Empire, facilitating trade, communication, and transportation cross the rugged Andes terrain.

Coricancha in Cusco, Peru

What was the most important temple in the Inca Empire, described by early Spanish colonialists, and constructed using ashlar masonry?

Ashlar Masonry

What type of masonry did the Inca use in the construction of the Coricancha?

Coricancha in Cusco, Peru

It is also known as the Golden Temple of the Incas.

Coricancha in Cusco, Peru