The Mayan civilization grew to be pretty big over the years which are split up into the early classic from 250 CE to 600 CE, and the late-classic which ranges from 600-900 CE. Overall the classical period can be thought to be the time in which there was a lot of polity and an abundance of trade between the Maya and non-Maya These sections in that era classify both the rise and growth of Maya and then the fall of what they had built. The entire classic period was a time of reconstruction in which the Mayans built independent city-states along with temples and pyramids. Most of the city states are found in what is today Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and other surrounding countries. It is believed that each of these city states had their own independent rulers who were looked at as god-like. The higher ups in the classic ear are believed to be able to read and had a vast amount of knowledge. A large amount of Mayan city-states throughout Mesoamerica aided in the thriving trade and became a large part of politics and economics. During the classic period, the Mayans displayed advances in their culture just like their form of government. The Mayans believed in a …show more content…
The Aztecs warriors were able to gain control of neighboring states for rulers such as Motecuhzoma II to take control. This is different from the Mayans as far as expanding in size. The Aztecs were known for their agriculture having some of the finest ever produced of the continent as well as trade. Similar to the Mayans, the Aztecs also had city-states which had their own individual rulers or a tlatoani who was the head of a council of nobles. The once small settlements of the Aztec had extended their reach by 1400 CE consuming civilizations making them their own to form the Valley of Mexico. This is different from the Mayans as far as expanding in size who did so through the reconstruction of neighboring city-states. By 1430 CE the Aztec were continuing to expand all while having the Aztec warriors at the spearhead of everything. This then led to the practicing of human offerings, taking captives from their victorious battles over territory to Tenochtitlan to perform ritual sacrifice. Tenochtitlan Was an Aztec capital on the western shore of Lake Texcoco which could accommodate at least 200,000 by the early 16th century. The inhabitants were broken up into a type of caste system ranking highest to lowest. At the top were the rulers, followed by the nobles, common people, serfs, and lastly slaves. This is also where they also did a lot of trading which included