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Mayan Pyramids Research Paper

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Most people always wonder how the world was like in the past. Today, ancient structures and temples tell archeologists some information about past civilizations. A prime example of this are the Mayan pyramids and Egyptian pyramids; these structures both have their differences and similarities. Mayan pyramids are found in Central America (“Visiting” 45). Most Mayan pyramids are step structures reaching a total of 365 steps (“El Castillo” Infographic 47). In addition to the pyramid’s appearance, the Mayan pyramids served a purpose as they “functioned as temples” as well as other religious aspects (“Visiting” 45). The Maya built their temples like a charm; they constructed most pyramids in a giant stair fashion and were “positioned… to note important points in the calendar…” (45). The Maya sometimes built a pyramid on top of an older one, therefore some pyramids have been undiscovered and may never be “rediscovered” (46). The Maya built a true archaeological site, in which even today takes the breath away of people who visit the ruins. …show more content…

The pyramids serve as a place to store the bodies of the pharaoh and to help them achieve the afterlife. Researchers assume that these magnificent structure were built with simple laborers hauling heavy pieces of stone up a ramp and using simple tools to define the shape (“Great Pyramid” Data 44). The Great Pyramid of Giza is as tall as the Statue of Liberty, standing at a total height of 481 feet (44). The pyramids are made up of slabs of solid stone and gleaming limestone “placed so perfectly that even today it is not possible to squeeze a knife blade between them” (44). These pyramids are so unique that they are “one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that remains…” (Gustafson 43). It truly is fascinating what the Egyptians built and how long the world has been astonished by their

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Over a thousand years ago in the Mesoamerica region the culture that we know as Maya thrived. They had an amazement and intrigued fascination over the technical mastery of their intellectual studies. The Mayan’s history is rich with remarkable human achievements, as well as stories. Some of their most recognizable masterpieces are the Mayan trade network, building Cities, the Mayan number system, and the Mayan calendar.

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The Mayans were just one of several civilizations in Mesoamerica that accomplished many achievements. They had one of the greatest pre-industrial architectural cultures, started a trade network, formed a number system and were one of the first to use the number zero, and created a calendar based off what they saw. The trade network was significant as it allowed the Mayan tribes to trade for necessities, such as salt and cacao, and helped spread their culture (Doc A). The remains of the strong buildings built by the Mayans proved they were one of the “greatest preindustrial cultures of the world” in their time (Doc B). The accuracy and time measurements of their calendars were better than any other, and allowed them to predict the weather and

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It was one of the first civilizations to engage in and produce significant achievement in astronomy, engineering and agriculture. For instance, they built a pyramid at Chichen Itza, present day Mexico, similar to those in Egypt. Here, they would observe the movement of the stars, sun, moon and planets. Their interest in astronomy led to their innovation of the Mayan Calendar. Moreover, they built these pyramids in order to get closer to the Gods.

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B) Maya architecture also incorporates various art forms and hieroglyphic texts. Masonry architecture built by the Maya recommended craft specialization, central organization, and political power. The architecture was a remarkable achievement because they built great pyramids, stone palaces, temples, ball courts and other ritual buildings that require lots of effort to make. In fact, "for the single home of a Copan nobleman, It has been estimated that at least 80 to 130 workers would have been employed full time to finish in two to three months." (Document B)

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The Egyptian pyramids look very similar to Sumerian ziggurats and some people believe that the Egyptians were even influenced by the Sumerians in how to build them while others believed that they had little to no influence considering they were a great distance apart. The Egyptians probably did not base their building technique for pyramids on Sumerian ziggurats because, they were used for different purposes, the Sumerians had little influence on Egyptian culture, and the features contained inside a pyramid differed from those of a ziggurat. “The Pharaoh believed, like any commoner among his people, that every living body was inhabited by a double, or ka, which need not die with the breath; and that the ka would survive all the more completely

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Tikal is a city “located in the north of the Petén region of Guatemala, [and] was a major city which flourished between 300 and 850 CE”(Cartwright). While the city is located on ground level, the urban planning of Tikal shows much forethought as it “consists of nine different plazas and courts connected by causeways and ramps and has, in all, over 3,000 structures” (Cartwright). The towering structures are mammoth in size, but are given room to breath because “the buildings are spread over some 15 square kilometres, and so the city was relatively low in density”(Cartwright). Though the Maya and the Inca practiced different religions, they both had animal worship and reverence through art. The religious aspects of mayan culture is easily seen in the architecture of the great city as many stones are inscribed with messages describing or paying homage to their gods (the Maya had a written language).

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Mayan writing has showed their views on religion, astronomy and rituals. Unfortunately, due to harsh conditions over many centuries, very little of the Mayan art has survived and most of it is in poor

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An investigation demonstrates how water can make squares simpler to move and a papyrus found by the Red Sea .One of the pyramids he built at the site of Dahshur is referred today as the "Bowed pyramid" in light of the fact that

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Many years ago, thousands of people were toiling away in the blazing heat of the Yucatan, precisely placing adobe bricks on what would later be some of the most remarkable and grand structures in the world. The Mayan civilization was one of the most refined and sophisticated cultures in the world, and their impressive architecture shows the world today of the power that they had. About more than 2,000 miles away, the Egyptians were building the Great Pyramids in Giza, the greatest masterpieces of Egypt. Despite the facts that the pyramids for each civilization had slight differences, such as purpose and structure, this is just an example of how although both of their empires were surprisingly similar, they were also very different from each

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Still they are not the only ancient civilizations with fascinating pyramids which after reading the Puebla article on history.com became quite clear. Another breathtaking pyramid is the Great Pyramid of Cholula located in Puebla, Mexico. If it is viewed from a distance it appears to be a natural hill under a church, yet it is anything but. This structure like the Mayan one was built during the third to ninth century AD. There is many myths of how this temple came to be; a giant itself built it.

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Pyramids were not only secluded to Egypt, but rather expanded far across the world in varying time periods. The basic form of the pyramids was discovered in Peru as mounds of earth compacted into a temple. Much later, many more were built in Central America by the Olmec, Aztec, and Maya ("Pyramids," 2001). All of the societies that built pyramids had some-sort of polytheistic beliefs, where building this structures brought them closer to their god. The influence this had on the world was extraordinary and allowed for a stronger sense of community

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The Manyan scholars Linda Schele and David Friede had finally cracked the code of Mayan epigraphy and unlocked many Mayan secrets. The hidden truth behind the ruins

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Both cultures beliefs were centred around their gods. For this reason, most of their architecture had some sort of religious background. The Egyptian, as well as the Mayan built pyramids; although their intention of use differed. The purpose behind the Egyptians pyramids were to be used as burial sites for pharaohs and the royal families. In the other hand, the Mayans constructed pyramids for sacrificial purposes, as well as for worshiping gods.

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