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Differences Between the Aztecs and the Mayans
When speaking about the ancient civilizations of Central America, the Aztecs and Mayans are two of the most renowned cultures. Both the Aztecs and the Mayans were instrumental in shaping the history of their native region, each showcasing distinct cultural and societal norms. While these two civilizations existed in close proximity and had similar characteristics, they are separate entities with unique traditions, structures, languages, and religious beliefs. The purpose of this article is to dissect the variations between these two ancient cultures, providing a clear distinction to differentiate the proud Aztecs from the intricate Mayans.
An Overview of Aztecs and Mayans
The Aztecs were Nahuatl-speaking people who lived in the central region of Mexico in the 14th to 16th centuries. Their civilization is known for its majestic cities and sophisticated social, political, and economic systems. The Aztec society was highly stratified and their populations lived in large, well-organized cities, the largest and most famous one being Tenochtitlán.
Conversely, the Mayan civilization stretched across what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and parts of Honduras, reigning predominantly between 250-900 AD, reaching their pinnacle during the classic period (300-900 AD). They were renowned for their advanced knowledge of astronomy, well-structured agricultural systems, and booming trade networks.
Comparison of the Societal Structures
The Aztecs had a supra-tribal structure, led by a militaristic emperor. Society was hierarchically arranged into classes: nobility, priests, warriors, merchants, and farmers. Commoners had opportunities to elevate their status through military achievements.
On the other hand, the Mayan political structure consisted of independent city-states governed by a ruling class of nobles and the king. Society was divided into four classes: the nobility, the merchant class, the peasant class, and the slaves. Social mobility, however, was rather limited.
Religion
Religion was a central part of both Aztec and Mayan cultures. The Aztecs worshipped a multitude of deities and engaged in human sacrifice, drawing the essence of life (blood) back to the gods.
The Mayans, although also polytheistic, had different gods. They believed in a cyclic nature of time and held impressive astronomical knowledge that contributed to their complex calendar system. Bloodletting was prevalent, but human sacrifice, while present, was not as frequent or ritualized as in the Aztec civilization.
Language and Writing
The Aztecs spoke Nahuatl and used pictographs for their writing system. They used these pictographs to record their history and religious rituals.
The Mayans had a much more sophisticated hieroglyphic writing system; they are, in fact, the only known pre-Columbian culture in the Americas to have fully developed written language. They wrote on many surfaces and created codices, some of which survive today.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Aztecs and Mayans live?
The Aztecs lived between the 14th and 16th centuries while the Mayans predominated between 250 and 900 AD. This means that the Mayan civilization had fallen into decline by the time the Aztecs rose to power.
Where were the Aztecs and Mayans located?
The Aztecs were housed majorly in the central region of Mexico while the Mayans extended across what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and parts of Honduras.
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