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The Aztec, Mayan, and Incan civilizations
developed as complex societies around 300 to
1500 A.D. in Central and South America,
becoming the most advanced Native American
groups of the time. The Aztecs conquered
most of Mexico. The Incas developed ways to
farm successfully using irrigation. The Mayas
architecture was amazing. These three
civilizations were very advanced and
accomplished what no other natives could.
The Mayas, established in Central America
about 300 A.D., were very skilled builders and used
an advanced system of hieroglyphs. The Mayan
architecture included massive stone pyramids and
temples. One such was a Mayan pyramid temple in
Tikal, the tallest structure in the Americas until the
twentieth century. Being capable of building a tall,
sturdy building was amazing considering the tools
available to Mayan builders. The hieroglyphs recorded
an advanced calendar system which was based upon
the movements of the sun. Developing a written
language proves the Mayans were superior to other
peoples of the time.
The Aztecs emerged in the 1400’s as a powerful
people. In conquering most of Mexico, the Aztecs
culture and lifestyles spread to many tribes. The
60,000 people in one of Tenochtitlán markets alone
proved the size of the Aztec empire. Spanish
conqueror Hernán Cortés described the Aztec capital
Tenochtitlán’s markets as impressive. “There is one
square … where there are daily more than 60,000
souls, buying and selling, and where are found all kinds
of merchandise produced in these countries.” The
Aztecs had developed an advanced system of trading
goods. They also had the technology to produce all
the commodities, including anything from valuable
metals to food products.
The Incas, existing in the Andes Mountains about the
1400’s, were famous for their farming and building techniques.
As described by Garciasco de la Vega, son of a Spanish
explorer, the Incas developed irrigation, the bringing of water
to crops. “The engineers showed great cleverness and skill in
supplying water for the crops… they endeavored to increase
[the land’s] fertility as much as possible.” In being able to
expand farmland using irrigation, the Incas had plenty of food
to go around. The Incan builders built thousands of miles of
roads to unite the Incan kingdom, as shown by the map of the
Incan empire in 1535. This was an amazing feat, showing the
builders’ skill in constructing many roads. They were also able
to fit stones together to construct buildings without any type
of mortar, requiring much expertise.
The Mayan, Aztec, and Incan
civilizations were very advanced and
complex civilizations. They developed
many concepts which improved their
ways of life and separated them from
other more basic peoples.