Mayan American Culture

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<BR> <br> Major Indian Civilizations - Some archaeologists and anthropologists use the term "nuclear" America. "Nuclear," a common misconception among most individuals including weapons of mass destruction, what is truly intended for the meaning is the ancient cultural centers of America. The term nuclear America refers to the areas of the three great Indian civilizations - the Maya, the Aztec, and the Inca. <br> Nuclear America included two areas. One area was in the part of Middle America that today makes up the southern half of Mexico and northern Central America. The other area covered most of the Andes Mountains on the west coast of South America. Find the two areas on the map. <br> The Maya - The Maya once ruled the lands…show more content…
Specifically, they live in Guatemala, E1 Salvador and the Honduras. They have their own language. Farmers, artists and weavers, these people sell their wares on the open market, and use it to support their lifestyle. Their religion is a blend of traditional beliefs and Catholicism. They sometimes have disputes with the local governments over land rights and other issues. <br> A Large Maya Area - The Maya were at the height of their power from approximately A.D. 600 to A.D. 900. They expanded throughout a large area that included almost all of present-day Guatemala and Belize, substantial portions of Honduras and El Salvador, and the Yucatan section of southeastern Mexico. That area includes both highlands and lowlands. It was in the lowlands, however, that the Maya made some of their outstanding advances. <br> Maya Achievements - The fame of the Maya does not rest on conquest. Instead, the Maya are remembered for their achievements in astronomy, mathematics, and the arts. The remains of their graceful pyramids and temples still excite wonder and command respect today. Imagine how grand they must have been at the height of their glory so many years…show more content…
They carried with them their tribal god, whose name meant "Humming Bird of the South." He was god of war and the sun. They believed that this god would lead them to a special place. <br> <br>An Aztec Legend <br> According to Aztec legend, the god told them to make their home on the spot where they saw an eagle perched on a cactus with a serpent in its mouth. Again according to legend, the Aztecs saw the eagle on an island in Lake Texcoco in Mexico's central valley. There they stopped and made their home, building the city of Tenochtitlan. Today the eagle and serpent are shown on the flag of Mexico. <br> <br>A Rise to Power <br> Tenochtitlan, the Central City - At its height, the Aztec Empire included millions of people. Even though no one knows exactly how many people there were, it seems clear that the Aztec Empire had a population equal to the large European countries at the time! Tenochtitlfin alone, which may have had as many as 200,000 people, was larger than any European city. Along the shores of Lake Texcoco were other cities. These cities were connected to Tenochtitlfin by a system of causeways, or raised earthen roads, built across the lake. Bridges on the causeways allowed canoes to go from one part of the lake to

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