Early American civilizations, most notably the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans, were far advanced and demonstrated their developed cultures with references towards their high organization, complex architecture, and technological innovations. Considering that these three civilizations had very little contact from the Eurasian and African worlds, their progress should be rightfully commended. Through generational inheritance of previous cultures, these early societies received and expanded upon the primitive cultures existing prior to their initial foundings.
A highly organized structure is a key foundation for most advanced civilizations. In many ways, early American civilizations demonstrated their elevated institutions by having large cities, linked together over a vast area forming an empire. For example the capital city of Tenochtitlan was a vital and flourishing center for Aztec life. It contained "more than sixty thousand" people who enjoyed a bustling marketplace where anything from "food products" to "jewels of gold and silver" could be obtained.
Inca Stone Architecture - Machu Picchu - Peru 05
Tokapu of the Inkas
English: National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico...(Doc. 3) To help control a vastly stretching empire, the Incas connected their urban centers with a highly organized system of roads. (Doc.5) This not only was conducive to imperial unity, but also aided in the transmission of communications and ameliorated the need for alternative forms of transportation through the mountainous Incan terrain. Thus, this system of roads helped the Incan economic system by improving the rate of trade along the western coastline of South America.
The first subjects that most explorers lay their eyes upon are the monuments of newly discovered civilizations. Buildings may be well regarded for their design, size, or uniqueness. These massive structures require strength, skill, and time. The early American civilizations had proven their community strength by erecting substantial monuments. One example is the Mayan pyramid temple in Tikal, which was the tallest structure in the Americas until the twentieth century. (Doc.1) By assuming that...