Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas

Maya Civilization

  • Location: Central America, specifically in present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador.

  • Time Period: Peak from approximately 250 to 900 AD (Classic Period).

  • Writing System: Hieroglyphs consisting of logograms and syllabic symbols.

  • Key Achievements:

    • Advanced mathematics and astronomy

    • Complex calendars (Tzolkʼin and Haabʼ)

    • High architectural achievements, including pyramids and cities like Tikal and Palenque

  • Society and Culture:

    • Hierarchical society with a ruling class, scribes, and a large peasant population

    • Religious practices centered around polytheism, ritual sacrifices, and monumental architecture.

Aztec Civilization

  • Location: Central Mexico, primarily around the Valley of Mexico.

  • Time Period: Established in the 14th century, flourishing until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

  • Language: Nahuatl, the language still spoken by some communities today.

  • Key Achievements:

    • Capital city of Tenochtitlán built on an island in Lake Texcoco, with an advanced network of canals

    • Massive agricultural systems, including chinampas (floating gardens)

    • Rich cultural life expressed through art, music, and festivals

  • Society and Culture:

    • Social hierarchy with the emperor at the top, followed by nobles, merchants, artisans, and farmers

    • Polytheistic religion with a pantheon of gods; human sacrifices were common in their worship rituals.

Inca Civilization

  • Location: Along the western coast of South America, primarily in present-day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and parts of Chile and Argentina.

  • Time Period: Rose to power in the early 15th century and fell to Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

  • Language: Quechua, still spoken in many areas of the Andes.

  • Key Achievements:

    • Extensive road systems across rugged mountainous terrain (Carpa Nan)

    • Architectural marvels, including Machu Picchu and the extensive city of Cusco

    • Advanced agricultural techniques, including terrace farming and irrigation systems

  • Society and Culture:

    • Centralized government led by the Sapa Inca, who was considered a descendent of the sun god

    • Atheistic society with a strong emphasis on collectivism and community service.

  • Quipu was a recording device used by the Incas, consisting of a series of colored, knotted strings. It was used for various purposes, including:

    • Keeping records of numerical data, such as census information and tax obligations.

    • Accounting and administrative tasks, as it allowed the Incas to manage their vast empire efficiently.

    • Communication of information across long distances since it could convey complex data without written language.

    Each knot and color had specific meanings, making quipu a crucial tool for the Inca civilization's organization and administration, especially given their lack of a writing system.

Additional Key Terms

  • Chinampas: Floating gardens used in agriculture by the Aztecs.

  • Tzolk’in: The 260-day sacred calendar of the Maya.

  • Sapa Inca: The emperor of the Incan Empire.

  • Polytheism: The worship of multiple gods, a common trait among the three civilizations.

  • Machu Picchu: An iconic archaeological site of the Inca Empire, notable for its sophisticated dry-stone construction.