The Maya And The Aztec Civilizations And Political System

According to Spengler (1918), the continuity of civilizations is based on a single major cultural symbol. Culture undergoes a cycle of birth, life, decline, and death, and is usually replaced by a strong new cultural symbol, and this new culture often replaces a strong new culture. Civilizations usually follow a similar pattern. They start small and grow stronger, change survival, political, and religious systems. Then gradually split into smaller groups, or suddenly collapse. In the whole process, identifiable cultural and environmental changes often occur. In this final research paper, I will focus on comparing the 'life cycles' of the Maya and Aztec, and discuss similarities and differences between the life cycles of two societies and which societies I consider more successful.

According to Fagan (2012), the origin of the Mayan civilization dates back to 1000 BC, but later larger ceremonial centers appeared, such as Nakbé, Guatemala. As early as 2600 BC, the Maya lived in southern Mexico and northern Central America-including the vast territory of the entire Yucatan Peninsula. The Mayan civilization originated in 1800 BC, but these settlements were widely abandoned around 100 AD. Massive reconstruction took place between 250 and 900 AD, known as the Classical Period, when the Mayans established many independent city-states, built temples and palaces, developed hieroglyphic systems, and developed relationships with others Long-distance trade in Central American culture. Evans (2013) said that the early classic period of the Lowland Maya was a major cultural prevalence, with its monumental buildings and dynamic inscriptions circulating widely, and dozens of capitals possessing complex royal bloodlines.

Around 900 AD, the Great Ceremonial Center was abandoned. The long-term calendar has ended. Religious life and the structure of the state are rotten (Fagan, 2012). There are some factors caused the collapse. First of all, which is the failure of the agricultural base, there is a severe drought cycle. Besides, as Johnson (2017) mentioned environmental change and degradation, such as deforestation and soil erosion, are one factor in the Mayan collapse, the change in these domains will have an impact on society as a whole. Environmental changes coincided with stressed agricultural systems and social organizations (Johnson, p.60). Natural disasters also have a causal or aggravating effect on the failure of large-scale societies (Johnson, p.61). According to Evan (2013), it mentioned that the earth itself had been starved, and the long century required to restore the topsoil and its fertility represents a time-honored calendar cycle far too long to help the dwindling Maya of the southern lowlands. In other words, because of environmental degradation, there is not enough time to recover the original condition, so the Classic Maya collapse.

According to Evan (2013), in 1200 AD, the Valley of Mexico was a political vacuum, with no apparent ruling clique. For centuries, a humble, 'small but kind tribe' presided over America's most powerful former Columbus Empire, which is the Aztec Empire. The Aztec Empire began as an alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tacuba to defeat Azcapotzalco. Tenochtitlan became the main city of the alliance, and its empire spread through trade and military conquests. It controls its country by installing rulers, forming marriage alliances and paying tribute. The Empire reached its maximum spread in 1519 ( before the Spaniards reached the area).

Fagan (2012) said that in the Aztec Empire, everything benefits the growing elite, who maintain their power through brutal and effective tax campaigns, political marriages, and constant threats of force. When Ahuitzotl died in 1501, the Aztec Empire was in its heyday. The Empire had shown signs of tension when Hernan Cortes and 600 conquerors entered the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan in 1519. Hernan Cortes conquered Tenochtitlan in 1521 and was supported by many indigenous allies. The city was destroyed. The Spaniards then established a new settlement in Mexico City, where they began colonizing Central America. Smallpox broke out in 1520-21 and played an important role in the fall of the city, with about 10% to 50% of the population dying from the disease.

There are some similarities between the life cycles of these two societies. According to Evan (2013), both the Maya and the Aztecs established complex government systems, built large cities including temples and monuments, adopted advanced agricultural methods, and had large markets selling a variety of food and commodities. Besides, both the Aztecs and the Mayans practiced a strict and clear social hierarchy. Their society includes different classes or groups. Political authority stems from the superior samurai class of rulers and their nobles and priests, have the greatest wealth, followed by artisans and merchants. Farmers and slaves form the basis of the social pyramid, are very poor. They enjoy few rights in both civilizations. Economically, both the Maya and the Aztecs were farmers. They grow a variety of agricultural products including corn, pumpkin, and beans. The two societies also trade and have a class of merchants who can exchange goods in different areas of the area where they live (Evan, 2013). In addition, the Maya has a calendar showing 365 days based on the movement of the sun. The Maya created multiple calendars to commemorate the passing of the sacred time. The long-term calendar begins in 3114 BC. The Aztecs also had the same calendar. This calendar is called XiuhpohuallI. Dellenbaugh (1933) mentioned that the surface of the stone is engraved with thirty-two 'wind points' of the fifteenth-century nautical compass card. The Aztec date is the 13th Acatl, which translates to our chronology in 1479 AD. Also, they both have their own written languages. The basic unit of text is pictograph.

Evans (2013) mentioned that the Maya writing system is flexible and expressive, capable of recording grammatical sentences and complete thoughts. Maya texts have log been noteworthy because of the beauty of their form: each distinct, sinuous lock is an integral part of a whole design. Maya writing is one of the world's traditions of calligraphy in the true sense of 'beautiful writing'. The ovoid locks are grouped, and the groups disposed in rows. While the blocks were to be read from left to right, their organization was in pairs of columns. Rank (2019) said that the Aztec use pictograms, which combine pictographs and ideograms and represent graphic symbols or pictures of ideas. Culturally, the Mayans and Aztecs participated in the war out of respect. They provide prisoners of war as a victim of humanity, which is vital to their religion. Both groups are polytheists, and each belief in various gods based on nature. People in both countries rely heavily on agriculture for a living, and they believe that God will govern factors such as rainfall, or crops such as corn. These are belligerent cultures, so warrior gods guide them in battle and give them courage. Since they enjoy the same basic life cycle around the world, they also believe in the gods of childbirth and the underworld (Evan, 2013).

There are also have significant differences between these two societies. According to Evan(2013), the Maya were indigenous to Mexico and Central America, while the Aztecs covered most of northern Central America between 1345 and 1521. Also, Maya is the oldest Maya. The culture was established in 1000 BC, 2000 years before the Aztecs. Besides, the Aztecs lived a more cruel, belligerent lifestyle with frequent human sacrifices, while the Maya preferred scientific work, such as drawing stars. Another difference between the Maya and the Aztecs is their farming methods. The Mayans used the slash burning method, while the Aztecs used porcelain. In addition, the Maya created a hieroglyphic writing system, the Aztecs created the famous Xhehetecuhtli mask, which used turquoise inlays. Moreover, the Mayans built towering temples and exquisite palaces, and the Aztecs built their capital on the island Tenochtitlan Maya used two calendars. For the calendar, the Maya is based on the solar year, and the other is a sacred calendar. Maya also uses a three-symbol number system that allows them to record millions of numbers. The Aztecs used a sacred calendar and a 365-day agricultural calendar. Maya's architects used local materials such as limestone, they used this material in Palenque and Tikal. Turquoise is mainly used by Aztec artists, and the most common example is the decorated human skull, representing the god Tezcatlipoca. In the political situation, the Maya is composed of urban states and there is no political unity. Each city-state was an independent ruler. The Aztecs were ruled by the emperor and their main purpose was to lead the war. The local rulers and the conquered had to pay taxes to the Aztecs. In short, The Mayans had urban states, each ruled by a sovereign ruler, and the Aztecs ruled by a supreme ruler. In art and architecture, the Maya built many buildings and left a considerable architectural heritage. The Maya rebuilt a classic ancient city 'Tikal', which covers an area of more than 20 square kilometers. While the Aztecs built statues like the colossal Coatlicue, or the very lively and famous Xochipilli sitting statue. Aztec art depicts all variants of discipline but is particularly famous for animals, plants, and deities, especially those related to fertility and agriculture. To put it succinctly, Maya's artistic style is lifelike and reflects contemporary life in murals. Aztecs were outstanding craftsmen and sculptors. Finally, the Maya collapse is because of environmental changes and natural disasters. The Aztecs were eventually defeated by the Spanish conquerors led by Hernan Cortes. In other words, the Maya was not abolished like Aztecs but gradually disappeared.

I consider that the Maya is more successful. The ancient Maya invented amazing scientific achievements in various fields such as astronomy, agriculture, engineering, and communication. According to Evan (2013), the influence of the Mayan civilization goes back to its complex agricultural systems. They can grow corn, beans, pumpkin and cassava in the harshest and most difficult environments. Another achievement of Maya is their language, which consists of 800 symbols. Each symbol represents a word or a syllable and can be combined an unlimited number of times. Many people still speak the Mayan language today. They are also able to build amazing building structures and cities without the modern machinery we have today. Temples and big cities built by the Mayans did not have the tools needed today, such as metal and the wheel. The Chichen Itza is a pyramid built by the Maya in Mexico, so the location of the sun can be seen at the spring equinox ( the time or date when the sun crosses the equator) in spring and autumn. At these two days of sunset, the pyramid cast a shadow on itself, coinciding with the sculpture of a human zombie head. The shadow forms the body of the snake. When the sun went down, the snake seemed to slide to the ground. It just illustrates how their technology at the time influenced our technology today. Mayans are also known for their calendar system, which helps them predict eclipses and uses it to help them grow and harvest.

Their calendar system consists of 2 calendars. The first is called the calendar wheel and it is based on overlapping annual cycles (sacred 260 days and worldly 365 days). The calendar used by the Maya is similar to the calendar we use today. In other words, ancient Mayan civilizations existed in today's regions of Mexico and Central America at least as early as 2600 BC to conquer the 16th century in Spain. They are part of the Central American civilization, which is made up of many indigenous cultures in the region. The Maya are known for their mathematics and astronomy, which enabled them to make highly complex calendars. They were highly skilled buildings and engineers who built monumental buildings including palaces. The Mayans also developed the only complete writing system in Central America. In terms of survival, the Mayan civilization survived to this day, that 's why I think Maya is more successful.