- Language: Both the Mayans and Aztecs spoke languages from the same family, known as the Uto-Aztecan language family. While there were different Mayan languages and dialects, as well as different Aztec languages and dialects, there were some broad similarities in terms of grammatical structures and vocabulary.
- Religion: The Mayans and Aztecs shared many religious beliefs and practices. Both cultures had a pantheon of gods and goddesses, including gods associated with nature, such as rain, sun, and earth. Both civilizations engaged in religious ceremonies and rituals, including human sacrifice.
- Calendar: The Mayans and Aztecs had remarkably similar calendar systems. Both civilizations developed complex calendars based on astronomical observations. The Mayan calendar was particularly advanced and included multiple calendars for different purposes, such as tracking the solar year, lunar months, and religious cycles. The Aztec calendar was also complex, with two main calendars, one based on the solar year and one based on a ritual cycle of 260 days.
- Architecture: The Mayans and Aztecs constructed impressive architectural structures. Both civilizations built large temples, pyramids, palaces, and cities. Mayan architecture often incorporated carved reliefs and intricate designs, while Aztec architecture tended to be more monumental in scale.
- Urban Planning: Both the Mayans and Aztecs had well-developed urban planning systems. Their cities were carefully laid out with main plazas, temples, markets, and residential areas. They had advanced systems of water management and irrigation.
Differences
- Geography: The Mayans primarily inhabited the region of present-day southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, while the Aztecs were centered in central Mexico in the Valley of Mexico. This difference in geography led to variations in their environments and access to resources.
- Political Structure: The Mayans had a decentralized political structure with multiple independent city-states, each governed by its own ruler. The Aztecs had a more centralized political structure, ruled by a single emperor and a network of nobles.
- Economic Activities: While both engaged in agriculture, the Mayans were more heavily focused on trade, with extensive trade networks extending throughout Mesoamerica. The Aztecs had a more diverse economy that included agriculture, tribute from conquered territories, and crafts and trade.
- Writing Systems: The Mayans developed a sophisticated system of writing known as Mayan glyphs, which they used to record historical events, religious rituals, and astronomical observations. The Aztecs used a pictographic writing system known as Nahuatl codices.
- Military and Warfare: The Aztecs were more militaristic and engaged in extensive warfare to conquer neighboring territories and expand their empire. The Mayans, while they had conflicts and warfare, did not engage in large-scale conquests to the same extent as the Aztecs.