The Aztecs and the Mayas are two of the most important civilizations in the history of Mesoamerican culture. The Aztecs being warriors and mercenaries; the Mayas intellectuals and artists. Both cultures learned to adapt in different ways to the region where they settled, they both had highly developed societies, they were very religious, they both achieved a high level in science, but yet both empires came to an end.
By the 13th century the entire region, then known as the Valley of Anahuac, was inhabited by many different enemy city-states. Among the last to arrive to the scene were the Aztecs. The Aztecs sustained themselves in this area by offering their services as mercenaries, that is soldiers who receive pay as oppose for soldiers who served to their nation, for the mighty Tepanecs (peoples that controlled that region and most of the tribes that occupied it). Eventually they rebelled against their rulers, effectively taking power over the valley, that giving them their reputation as great warriors among the other tribes of this region and also the other islands. (Batalla).
The beginnings of the Maya have been traced back to 1500 BC, their culture flourished between 600 and 900 BC. While not the earliest of the Mesoamerican civilizations, the Maya are considered the most intellectual of these civilizations. The Mayas sustained themselves by farming. Their settlements were situated close to cenotes, natural water holes that allowed their produce to survive in the very hot tropical climate. They not only cultivated maize, beans, squash, and chili peppers, but also “cash crops” of cotton and cacao, the evergreen tree that produces the seeds that are the source of cocoa and chocolate. (The Maya)
In the religious aspect, Aztecs believed in signs and prophesies. A foretold prophecy explains to the Aztecs that after encountering an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake, that is where they will settle and build their society, they found that eagle and that is where they stayed. They also had many ceremonies throughout the day to honor their many gods. These ceremonies included human sacrifice; they usually sacrificed prisoners they had captured from wars with other tribes. (The Aztec)
For the Maya, religion and science went hand in hand. Through their high knowledge of astronomy, they predicted when to have their ceremonies, which is a similar practice to the Aztec. This union formed the core of daily life. They had ceremonies during the day, but they also had festivals throughout the year.
In the scientifical sense, the Aztecs weren’t as highly developed as the Mayas. The Aztecs adopted calendar systems from the Mayas and other cultures. Also their number system and mathematics was based from other cultures’ ideas and knowledge. (The Aztec)
In contrast the Mayas were extremely brilliant. Through their wisdom of astronomy and math they calculated the lunar cycle, predicted eclipses and other events with high precision. They created a calendar system that is more accurate than the one we use today. They also developed a complex style of hieroglyphic writing that to this day has not been fully deciphered. (The Maya)
The fall of the Aztec empire was marked by the landing of the Spanish ships on the shores of Mexico. The conquistadores abused and destroyed the Aztec people and their culture until it was all gone. Who ever survived became slaves to the Spaniards or became very ill with chicken pox, eventually dying. (Batalla)
As to how the empire of the Maya came to an end, many suggestions have been made. Earthquakes that destroyed and killed everyone in the valley; pestilence, perhaps some unknown illness that they didn’t know how to deal with; shortage of food supply; invasion by outsiders, either early European conquistadores or peoples from other islands, or a combination of all these, but the real reason is not certain. (The Maya)
Regardless of how or why these two magnificent cultures ended, what they left behind, their culture, their knowledge of math and science, how they adapted to where they lived, their religion, and their highly developed society, have helped to shape our society and our way of living today.

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