The Aztec, Mayan, and Incan civilizations developed as complex societies around 300 to 1500 A.D. in Central and South America, becoming the most advanced Native American groups of the time. The Aztecs conquered most of Mexico. The Incas developed ways to farm successfully using irrigation. The Mayas architecture was amazing. These three civilizations were very advanced and accomplished what no other natives could.

The Mayas, established in Central America about 300 A.D., were very skilled builders and used an advanced system of hieroglyphs. The Mayan architecture included massive stone pyramids and temples. One such was a Mayan pyramid temple in Tikal, the tallest structure in the Americas until the twentieth century. Being capable of building a tall, sturdy building was amazing considering the tools available to Mayan builders. The hieroglyphs recorded an advanced calendar system which was based upon the movements of the sun. Developing a written language proves the Mayans were superior to other peoples of the time.

The Aztecs emerged in the 1400’s as a powerful people. In conquering most of Mexico, the Aztecs culture and lifestyles spread to many tribes. The 60,000 people in one of Tenochtitlán markets alone proved the size of the Aztec empire. Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés described the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán’s markets as impressive. “There is one square … where there are daily more than 60,000 souls, buying and selling, and where are found all kinds of merchandise produced in these countries.” The Aztecs had developed an advanced system of trading goods. They also had the technology to produce all the commodities, including anything from valuable metals to food products.

The Incas, existing in the Andes Mountains about the 1400’s, were famous for their farming and building techniques. As described by Garciasco de la Vega, son of a Spanish explorer, the Incas developed irrigation, the bringing of water to crops. “The engineers showed great cleverness and skill in supplying water for the crops… they endeavored to increase [the land’s] fertility as much as possible.” In being able to expand farmland using irrigation, the Incas had plenty of food to go around. The Incan builders built thousands of miles of roads to unite the Incan kingdom, as shown by the map of the Incan empire in This was an amazing feat, showing the builders’ skill in constructing many roads. They were also able to fit stones together to construct buildings without any type of mortar, requiring much expertise.

The Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations were very advanced and complex civilizations. They developed many concepts which improved their ways of life and separated them from other more basic peoples.