Mayan Aztec Inca
Mayan, Aztec, Inca
The Maya, Aztec, and Inca were three civilizations that lived in Latin America during the middle ages. It is hard to overlook the fact that they had remarkable similarities, but also some differences. Their class structures were similar, and they all valued religion. However, when it came to the roles and expectations of men and women, there are differences between the three races.
The Maya, Aztec, and Inca all had a similar class structure. An emperor or ruler was at the top of the pyramid. Following him were the nobles, priests, and in the case of the Aztec, the military commanders. The next level was a bit different. In the Mayan society, it was the merchants and artisans. In the Aztec and Incan societies, it was the commoners. After this level came the peasants, but only in the Aztec and Mayan societies, as the Incan class structure ended at the commoners. The last level was the low-ranking slaves. As one can see, more than half of their class structures were the same.
Religion was an important part of life for the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. A distinct similarity was in which god was the most important. Both the Aztec and the Inca believed that the Sun God was the most important god. Although there was no clear god that was the most important in the Mayan society, as the primary gods were forces or objects in nature that affected their daily lives, it can be assumed that the Sun God was very important to the Mayans. In all three civilizations, priests conducted rituals. Another trait of the three civilizations was that they all made sacrifices to the gods. Both animals, and sometimes humans, for more important rituals, were given as offerings. One big exception, however, was the case of the Aztecs. The Aztecs believed that the sun fought daily battles against darkness, and that blood nourished him. Blood of warriors were believed to be especially nourishing. As a result of this, several thousand people were sacrificed each year to the gods,
The Maya, Aztec, and Inca were three civilizations that lived in Latin America during the middle ages. It is hard to overlook the fact that they had remarkable similarities, but also some differences. Their class structures were similar, and they all valued religion. However, when it came to the roles and expectations of men and women, there are differences between the three races.
The Maya, Aztec, and Inca all had a similar class structure. An emperor or ruler was at the top of the pyramid. Following him were the nobles, priests, and in the case of the Aztec, the military commanders. The next level was a bit different. In the Mayan society, it was the merchants and artisans. In the Aztec and Incan societies, it was the commoners. After this level came the peasants, but only in the Aztec and Mayan societies, as the Incan class structure ended at the commoners. The last level was the low-ranking slaves. As one can see, more than half of their class structures were the same.
Religion was an important part of life for the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. A distinct similarity was in which god was the most important. Both the Aztec and the Inca believed that the Sun God was the most important god. Although there was no clear god that was the most important in the Mayan society, as the primary gods were forces or objects in nature that affected their daily lives, it can be assumed that the Sun God was very important to the Mayans. In all three civilizations, priests conducted rituals. Another trait of the three civilizations was that they all made sacrifices to the gods. Both animals, and sometimes humans, for more important rituals, were given as offerings. One big exception, however, was the case of the Aztecs. The Aztecs believed that the sun fought daily battles against darkness, and that blood nourished him. Blood of warriors were believed to be especially nourishing. As a result of this, several thousand people were sacrificed each year to the gods,