There are many theories for this decline, including overpopulation, foreign invasion, revolt, and the collapse of trade routes.
The Maya southern lowlands went into decline in the 8th and 9th centuries and were abandoned. Smallpox broke out in 1520-21 and played a vital in the fall of the city, with between 10% to 50% of the population succumbing to the disease. The Spanish then founded a new settlement, Mexico City, on the site of the capital, and began colonizing Central America. Hernan Cortes conquered Tenochtiltan in 1521, supported by a large number of indigenous allies. There was large scale reconstruction between 250 and 900 CE, known as the Classic period, when the Maya built many independent city states, built temples and palaces, developed a hieroglyphic writing system, and developed long distance trade with other Mesoamerican cultures. Maya civilization existed from 1800 BCE, but these settlements were widely abandoned around 100 CE. The Empire reached its greatest spread in 1519 CE, just prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the area. It controlled its states through installing rulers, constructing marriage alliances, and asking for tribute. Tenochtitlan became the dominant city in the alliance, and their empire spread through both trade and military conquest. The Aztec Empire began with an alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan in order to defeat Azcapotzalco. The civilization saw its peak between 250 and 900 CE. The city lasted until 1521 CE.Īrchaeologists have discovered evidence that the Maya lived in Belize in around 2600 BCE, and it’s generally accepted that settlements existed around 1800 BCE. Location of the Mayan civilization in Central and South America.Īccording to legend, the Aztecs saw a vision telling them to settle on an island in Lake Texcoco, which they did in 1325 CE. Priests ran governments, ruled cities, led ceremonies and performed many other jobs. Government was an important part of the Maya civilization. One major Mayan city was Chichen Itza, 1000 to 1450 CE. In 1996, Guatemala formally recognized 21 Mayan languages by name and Mexico recognizes 8 more. Mayan languages are spoken by at least 6 million indigenous Maya, primarily in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize and Honduras. Nahuatl, still spoken by about 1.5 million people, mostly in central Mexico. The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, and for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. These city-states ruled the area in and around the Valley of Mexico. The Aztec Triple Alliance or Aztec Empire (Nahuatl: Ēxcān Tlahtōlōyān) began as an alliance of three Nahua city-states or "altepeme": Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. Comparison chart Aztecs versus Mayans comparison chart
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