Differences between Aztecs and Mayans

Aztecs vs. Mayans

The Aztec and Maya were Mesoamerican civilizations that flourished in present-day Mexico and Central America. While often discussed together, they were distinct societies with unique characteristics. The Maya civilization had a long history, developing complex cities and a sophisticated writing system by 750 B.C. In contrast, the Aztec Empire rose to prominence much later, flourishing from approximately 1300 to 1521.

Both civilizations were composed of various ethnic groups. The people known as Maya did not have a single unifying name for themselves, often identifying with their specific city-state. The term "Aztec" is a broader classification for several Nahuatl-speaking groups in central Mexico.

One of the most significant differences between the two was their political organization. The Maya were never a single, unified empire but were organized into numerous independent city-states, some of which became more powerful than others. The Aztec civilization, on the other hand, was a tributary empire with its political center in the city of Tenochtitlan, located in the Valley of Mexico.

Both cultures had complex religious beliefs and shared some deities, though with different names and emphasis. Human sacrifice was a part of their religious practices.

Comparison Table

| Location || Central Mexico, primarily the Valley of Mexico || Yucatán Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador

Category	Aztecs	Mayans
Timeline	| c. 2000 BCE–1500s CE
Political Structure	A unified empire with a single emperor (Huey Tlatoani)	A collection of independent city-states, each with its own ruler
Capital City	Tenochtitlan	No single capital; prominent cities included Tikal, Calakmul, and Chichen Itza
Writing System	Pictographic and ideographic system with phonetic elements	A complex logosyllabic system with hundreds of unique glyphs
Languages	Primarily Nahuatl	Various Mayan languages
Cultural Emphasis	Warfare and tribute	Science, mathematics, and astronomy

Venn diagram comparing Differences between Aztecs and Mayans

Political and Social Organization

The Aztec government was hierarchical, headed by an emperor who was considered to have a divine right to rule. The empire was composed of numerous city-states that were required to pay tribute to the capital, Tenochtitlan. As long as tributes were paid, the local governance of conquered city-states was often left intact.

The Mayan political landscape consisted of multiple city-states, each ruled by its own hereditary king who was also seen as a divine figure. These city-states engaged in complex relationships of alliances, trade, and warfare with one another. While some cities grew to be very powerful and exerted influence over smaller polities, they never unified into a single empire.

Writing Systems and Intellectual Pursuits

The Mayan civilization developed a sophisticated and complex writing system, the most advanced in the pre-Columbian Americas. It was a logosyllabic system, meaning it used both symbols representing whole words (logograms) and symbols representing syllables. This allowed them to record their history, astronomical observations, and religious beliefs in detail on stone monuments and in books.

The Aztec writing system was primarily pictographic and ideographic, using pictures and symbols to represent objects, ideas, and sounds. While it was effective for record-keeping, such as tracking tribute payments, it was not as phonetically versatile as the Mayan system.

The Mayans were particularly noted for their advanced understanding of mathematics and astronomy. They developed the concept of zero and created a highly accurate calendar system. While the Aztecs also had a calendar system and an understanding of mathematics, the Mayans' achievements in these fields were more pronounced.