Publisher's Synopsis
MAYA AND AZTEC HISTORY
Like the Greeks and Romans, many people relate folklore to legends. These two civic institutions have told some of the most renowned stories of divine beings and fantasies. The fact remains that every society in every corner of the world has its own legend. Mesoamerican human elevations such as those created by Mayas and Aztecs are epic in scale.
The Mesoamerican region comprises Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and other parts of Central America. From multiple perspectives, the Mayas and Aztecs' early Mesoamerican societies were very different, but they interacted regularly based on exchange, movement, and success. As a result, they share several similar characteristics, and their religions and fantasies have several commonalities. Most Mesoamerican societies tracked time exceptionally closely, creating complicated schedules to predict significant events, such as the change of seasons or eclipses of the Sun or moon. Their lives were controlled by the powers of pleasing and abhorrent acts documented by their lives, and they had to know when these opportunities would arise to make societal contributions and penances.
In addition to several different traits, the human advancements that grew out of the Mesoamerican societies also shared several other characteristics. Offerings from humans were an essential part of their strict practices to restore the divinity that sustains the role of the divine being. Images were used to create hieroglyphic compositions. Through their hieroglyphics, we can learn what they thought and lived like; they cut in stone or wrote vast scientific knowledge in books called codices made of fig-bark paper or deerskin, which were then collapsed like screens.
Aztecs and Mayas developed complex government structures, created incredible urban landscapes with landmarks and sanctuaries, refined farming techniques, and managed colossal business sectors that sold various food products. Different classes or groups of individuals made up their social orders. Most individuals at the bottom, such as the workers and engineers, were poor compared to those at the top, such as honorability.
The Mesoamerican social order included not only champions and ministers but also craftsmen (such as woodworkers), vendors, designers, astrologers, stargazers, and other specialists. In addition, artists, craftsmen, and architects were frequent participants in the numerous strict festivals.
Stone ball courts were among the most fascinating features in ancient Meso-American urban communities. A heavy elastic ball would be passed through a ring by two teams of people using these courts. By hitting the ball with their hips, shoulders, other parts of their middle, and perhaps from their heads, they could keep the ball moving. Neither their hands nor feet could be used. A brutal game of this nature took place regularly as part of strict customs from what we know. Often, players were injured, and sometimes the losers were sacrificed as conciliatory casualties. As you will see, ball games played an important role in Mesoamerican folklore.
Until the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s, Mesoamerican civilizations flourished. Those who went with or followed the Spanish conquerors (European conquerors) brought enormous changes, many of which were dangerous. A pandemic illness, such as smallpox, flu, and measles, was difficult for the local population. Individuals were organized into Spanish-style towns and villages to be controlled more easily.
