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The Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations Reading

The Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations were advanced indigenous cultures in Latin America, each with unique social, political, and cultural systems. The Maya excelled in astronomy and mathematics, the Aztecs built a powerful empire with Tenochtitlan, and the Incas created the largest pre-Columbian empire with a centralized government. Despite European colonization, these civilizations left a lasting legacy that continues to influence the region's cultural heritage.

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53 views3 pages

The Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations Reading

The Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations were advanced indigenous cultures in Latin America, each with unique social, political, and cultural systems. The Maya excelled in astronomy and mathematics, the Aztecs built a powerful empire with Tenochtitlan, and the Incas created the largest pre-Columbian empire with a centralized government. Despite European colonization, these civilizations left a lasting legacy that continues to influence the region's cultural heritage.

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4227426
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations

The Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations were remarkable indigenous cultures that thrived in different regions of
Latin America prior to European contact. Each civilization developed unique social, political, and cultural systems,
leaving a lasting impact on the history and heritage of the region.

The Maya civilization flourished in present-day Mexico, Guatemala,


Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Known for their advanced knowledge of
astronomy, mathematics, and writing, the Maya built impressive cities with grand
pyramids and intricate stone carvings. They had a complex social structure with a
ruling class of kings and priests, and their society was agriculturally based,
relying on maize (corn) cultivation. The Maya had a polytheistic (worshiping many
gods) religion and conducted elaborate rituals, including bloodletting ceremonies
and human sacrifices.

The Aztec civilization, centered in the Valley of Mexico, was renowned for its powerful city-state of Tenochtitlan,
which is present-day Mexico City. The Aztecs, or Mexica, built extensive irrigation systems, developed a hierarchical
society, and established a tribute system by which conquered territories paid taxes to the Aztec empire. They had a
sophisticated calendar, traded extensively, and were skilled warriors. Religion played a significant role, with the
worship of many gods, including the sun god Huitzilopochtli. Human sacrifice was practiced as part of their religious
beliefs.
The Inca civilization thrived in the Andean region, primarily
in present-day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and parts of Colombia,
Chile, and Argentina. The Inca empire was the largest pre-
Columbian empire in the Americas, known for its vast network of
roads, agricultural terraces, and monumental stone structures like
Machu Picchu. The Inca government was highly centralized, with
the ruler, known as the Sapa Inca, considered divine. They had a
collective agricultural system called "mit'a," where communities
worked together for the benefit of all. The Inca religion revolved
around the worship of the sun god Inti and ancestral spirits.

These three civilizations developed sophisticated cultural


practices, architectural marvels, and intricate belief systems. They
made significant contributions to fields like astronomy, agriculture,
and engineering, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to
captivate and inspire people today. Despite the eventual arrival of
European colonizers, the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations
remain integral to the cultural heritage of Latin America.

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