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Ancient Latin American Civilization Q&A（Terry） - Coggle Diagram

- - - - ‌ The main reasons why the Mayan civilization did not have a unified city-state ‌ were due to its geographical constraints, internal political and social problems, and the lack of an effective diplomatic and trade strategy.
        
        First of all, ‌ geographical environment ‌ is an important factor that the Mayan civilization did not unify the city-state. The Mayan civilization developed in the rainforests of Central America, which had difficult terrain and poor transportation, which made it difficult for the Maya to expand their territory and implement unified governance. Each polis was centered around a single city, and while the city-states had cultural and religious similarities, each had its own local leaders, and each had its own pace and style of development ‌.
        
        Secondly, ‌ internal political and social problems ‌ also prevented Mayan unity. During the Mayan civilization, there existed competition and war between many city-states, as well as conflicts of interest between the aristocracy and the common people. These internal problems resulted in the inability of the Mayans to form a strong union, each city-state had its own local leaders, some more powerful than others, but there was no unified central leader to coordinate the various city-states ‌.
        
        In addition, ‌ improper foreign trade and foreign policy ‌ further exacerbated the division of the Mayan civilization. Although the Mayans traded with the outside world, they did not establish effective diplomatic relations. The Mayan foreign expansion was also rough, using conquest and exploitation, which aroused strong antipathy and resistance in the surrounding areas ‌.
        
        Finally, ‌ the historical background of the Mayan civilization ‌ also explains the reason why it is not uniform. It took thousands of years for the Maya civilization to emerge from around 1200 BC until it was destroyed by Spanish colonists in the 16th century. The Mayan region in its heyday was divided into hundreds of city-states, but these city-states were traditionally part of the same cultural circle in terms of language, writing, religious beliefs, and customs. The Mayan civilization, along with the Inca civilization and the Aztec civilization, was one of the three major civilizations in the Americas, but its influence never formed a unified and powerful empire ‌.
  - - - The Mayan script is a hieroglyphic script created by the Mayan people in the Americas before and after AD, and prevailed in the middle of the 5th century. The Maya are the only people in the Americas who left written records, and the Maya are also the creators of the Maya civilization.
        The Mayan script is one of the few ancient scripts that has not yet been fully deciphered.
      - Mayan writing first appeared around AD, but the first stone tablet with a date was found in Tikal in 292 AD. From then on, the Mayan script spread only in a small area centered around Baden and Tikal.
      - It was not until the middle of the fifth century that the Mayan script became widespread throughout the Maya region, following established trade routes along which it spread. The only people in America to leave written records.
        In early A.D. they created hieroglyphics, one of the first five written languages in the world.
      - Mayan writing is very wonderful, it has both pictograms, understanding, and sound. It is a kind of writing with the function of intentional form and sound. A combination of hieroglyphics and sounds, Mayan carved characters represent both a single concept and their own unique pronunciation.
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    - - What is the relationship between the Olmec culture and the Indians？
        
        ‌ The Olmec culture is one of the sources of the ancient Indian civilization in Central America, and has exerted a profound influence on the Aztec civilization and the Mayan civilization. ‌ The Olmec culture, named after the Olmec Indians, is found in the states of Veracruz and Tabasco in Mexico. This civilization formed around 1400 BC and gradually declined around 400 BC ‌.
        
        The Olmec culture is known for its huge stone statues, complex wetland agricultural systems, and exquisite jade craftsmanship. These cultural characteristics reflect not only the artistic talent and technical level of the Olmec, but also the importance they attach to religion and power. The rise and fall of the Olmec civilization is closely related to the local natural environment and social factors, and its cultural characteristics have had an important influence on subsequent Mesoamerican civilizations ‌.
        
        The Olmec culture is believed to be the source of all Indian civilizations in Central America, including the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas. Each of these civilizations developed on the basis of Olmec culture, demonstrating highly developed social organization and cultural achievements. The sudden and mature emergence of the Olmec civilization, with no signs of prior preparation, has led scholars to study and discuss its origins and influences extensively ‌.
- - - - ‌Aztecs unified "city-states" because they wanted to create a centralized government and expand their power and influence.‌ The Aztecs, also known as the Mexica, were a Mesoamerican civilization that flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries AD. They were known for their advanced civilization, which included a complex social structure and a highly organized government‌.
      - The Aztecs unified the city-states for several reasons. Firstly, they wanted to create a centralized government to better manage resources and distribute them equitably among the different city-states. This was a significant step in consolidating their power and establishing their authority over the region‌. Secondly, the Aztecs believed in the concept of the "Four Suns," which represented different eras in their history and culture. Unifying the city-states was seen as a crucial step in preparing for the arrival of the fifth sun, which they believed would bring about a new era of prosperity and stability‌.
      - The process of unification involved a combination of political maneuvering, military conquest, and strategic alliances. The Aztecs were skilled diplomats and strategists, using a combination of force and diplomacy to bring the various city-states under their control. They formed alliances with some city-states while using military force against others. This approach allowed them to gradually expand their influence and ultimately unify the region‌.
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    - - By studying the sun, moon, weather, and seasonal patterns, the Aztecs created two main calendars: solar and lunar. ‌ The Aztecs' calendar system was crucial to their religious, agricultural and social life ‌.
        
        The Aztec solar calendar was a 365-day calendar that was used to guide agricultural activities. The year is divided into 18 months, with each month having 20 days, and an extra 5 days are added to a leap year, adding one day every four years. This calendar helped the Aztecs to accurately predict seasonal changes, and thus to organize farming and harvesting ‌23.
        
        The lunar calendar, the Aztec religious calendar, had 260 days in a year, divided into 13 months of 20 days each. This calendar has nothing to do with the phases of the moon and seasonal changes, but it is important for determining the timing of religious ceremonies. The Aztecs also used the date of birth in this calendar as part of their name ‌.
        
        The Aztec calendar system was not only used in agriculture and religion, but also played an important role in chronology and astronomical forecasting. Through accurate astronomical observations, the Aztecs were able to record historical events and astronomical phenomena, ensuring that their calendars aligned with the movements of celestial bodies. For example, the solar calendar overlaps with the lunar calendar once every 52 years, and this periodic coincidence helped the Aztecs calibrate their calendar system ‌.