Compare and Contrast the Maya and Inca

The Maya and the Inca were Native American civilizations that were in central America. There are many differences and similarities between these 2 civilizations. The following essay will compare and contrast the key elements of their societies, government, and daily life.

The main difference is that the Inca culture lasted for less than 200 years (A.D. 1440s-mid 1500s) in the present region of Peru, which is in South America, but the Mayan culture lasted for more than a thousand years, from about A.D. 400 to 1500, and flourished in the region of the Yucatan, which is in Mexico.

The Maya kingdom emerged around B.C. 1000, and lasted until A.D. 1697. All Maya shared a common culture and religion, but they did not have a capital city or ruler. Each city governed itself and had its own powerful ruler. The Maya had their own form of hieroglyphic writing.

The Inca empire was located in the highlands of the Andes in South America. They flourished between A.D. 1438 and 1534.

The Mayan and Inca civilizations were both very ancient. Today there are still some people of both back round. Most of the people today that have either of these two back rounds are more known by their Mayan back rounds, considering that the Inca civilization only lasted 100 years and the Mayans longer. The Incans were taken over by the Spaniards. When the Spaniards came they burned many of the Incas possetions.

People today think that when the Spaniards took over the Inca civilization, they had burned the books of hieroglyphs. So the only civilization known for their writings are the Mayans. Today's scientists have discovered 40% of the hieroglyphs from the Mayan civilization.

In both civilizations, each believed in gods. The Incas believed that the sun was their ultimate god. Both Mayans and the Incas were fascinated by the effects of Mother Nature, by the moon, sun, mountains, rain, and thunder.

In both civilizations, they had their own beliefs some similar and some different. The Mayans thought that by pleasing the gods they would sacrifice people, and animals as gifts. The Incas mummified their dead and brought them back when special occasions came into being.