- Urban centers: The Olmecs built large ceremonial centers, such as San Lorenzo and La Venta, which served as political and religious hubs for the surrounding region.
- Monumental architecture: The Olmecs are famous for their massive stone heads and other sculptures, which demonstrate a high level of artistic skill and craftsmanship.
- Complex social organization: Olmec society was divided into social classes, with a ruling elite and a priestly class.
- Writing system: The Olmecs developed a system of writing, which is one of the earliest known writing systems in Mesoamerica.
- Astronomy: The Olmecs had a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and developed a calendar system.
Maya:
- Urban centers: The Maya built numerous large cities, such as Tikal and Chichén Itzá, which were home to thousands of people.
- Monumental architecture: The Maya constructed pyramids, temples, palaces, and other impressive structures, many of which are still standing today.
- Complex social organization: Maya society was highly stratified, with a powerful ruling class, a priestly class, and a commoner class.
- Writing system: The Maya developed a complex system of writing, which was used to record history, mythology, and religious rituals.
- Astronomy: The Maya had a deep understanding of astronomy and developed a calendar system that was more accurate than the Julian calendar used in Europe at the time.
Aztec:
- Urban centers: The Aztecs built a vast empire with Tenochtitlan as the capital city. Tenochtitlan was one of the largest cities in the world at the time, with a population of over 200,000 people.
- Monumental architecture: The Aztecs constructed impressive temples, palaces, and pyramids, many of which can still be seen today.
- Complex social organization: Aztec society was highly structured, with a ruling class, a priestly class, a military class, and a commoner class.
- Writing system: The Aztecs used a system of writing called Nahuatl, which was used to record history, mythology, and religious rituals.
- Astronomy: The Aztecs had a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and developed a calendar system that was based on the movements of the sun and moon.
In conclusion, the Olmecs, Maya, and Aztecs all had characteristics of a civilized society, including urban centers, monumental architecture, complex social organization, writing systems, and astronomy.