In this class, I have learned a great deal about a wide variety of civilizations. These civilizations have ranged from the oldest known to the Gothic era and late Middle Ages. However, there were 5 things in particular that proved very interesting. The first three would be the Inca, the Aztec, and the Mayan civilizations. These 3 cultures had very interesting beliefs and some incredible architecture. The final two would be the Greek architectural orders and the Roman Coliseum. These last two were things that had always interested me, but I learned more about them in this class. These five things and their impact today will be the focus of this paper.
The Mayan civilization settled in Central America in the Yucatan Peninsula, and they had their golden age from 250 AD to 900 AD. At their height, they controlled as many as 40 cities. They built magnificent structures, including their stepped temples which many people are familiar with. This also ties in with their religious views. The Mayans were deeply religious and these temples were connected with their religion. The Mayan’s religious views were the most intriguing part of their culture to me. However, the ball game they were said to have played likely had the greatest impact on modern times. This seems especially true once you consider that soccer is extremely popular in South America.
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They made some interesting agricultural innovations because of their location. Since they were located in the Andes mountains they developed a farming style that involved stepped terraces. In addition, they built roads, bridges, and tunnels. These are probably their greatest contributions to our world we know today. After all, infrastructure plays an integral role even today in our lives. One of their greatest achievements was the city of Machu Picchu. Of these three cultures, the Inca most likely had the greatest structures and