Richard Perez

History 121
Nancy Turpin

History 115 Final Essay #1

Describe most significant traits of Pre-Columbian (before Columbus) art and architecture of the
Maya, Aztec and Inca.

Art and architecture has been a staple in pretty much every society in history. They tell us

stories and allow us to take a look back in time to different eras. They tell us about the people

and the way they lived and viewed life and the world around them. Although they can be similar,

each cultures and eras art styles vary greatly. The great civilizations of the ancient Pre-

Columbian Americas were for the most part illiterate and left behind very few documented

records. However, they did leave behind their remarkable art and architecture, which has greatly

aided us in learning about their history and cultures. The three major cultures of the Pre-

Columbian Americas were the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas.

The first great and most brilliant of all Native American civilizations was the Maya. The

Maya civilization began around A.D. 300 in Central America. They attained a level of artistic

achievement equaled by no other in the Americas. They built massive step pyramids, temples,

and multi storied buildings. Enormous stone belt city centers appeared in number of places, such

as Tikal in lower Guatemala. Great temples and altars were built where they would carry out

their sacrificial ritual. Courts for games played with a rubber ball also existed and have been

depicted on painted ceramic vessels. Such paintings are only a small part of the great works of

art produced by the Maya. They made stone reliefs, sculptures, sophisticated polychrome pottery,
and carved jade associated with Mayan rulers and gods. Their artistic styles are also very evident

in their architecture. The Maya produced elegant, artistic creations in unpromising environment.

The Aztecs, on the other hand, formed centuries later in Mexico. They were a civilization

that is mainly known for being a war-like people and for their religious rituals. However, great

architecture and art has come from the Aztecs as well. They made many sculpture, statues, other

works of art, which most of the time expressed their religious beliefs. They made numerous jade

sculptures of their gods, ceramic statues, and paintings of their gruesome human sacrificial

rituals. But more known than their art pieces, is their amazing architecture. The capitol city was

Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City. When the Spaniards arrived, they were amazed at the city’s

elegance and cleanliness. In its area of about 500 square yards, it contained more than eighty

structures, pyramids, pools, and homes of gods and of the men and women who served them.

Four great highways connected it with the mainland. Bridges stood at intervals. Stone and adobe

walls surrounded the city. Streets and canals ran through the city. And in the central square of the

city was the great temple of Huitzilopochtli. This pyramid was about 100 feet high and had three

flights of 120 steps each. Even though the Aztecs were referred to as barbaric, especially in

regards to their rituals, their accomplishments were amazing.

And finally there was is the Inca civilization of Peru. It was the most famous yet one of

the briefest South American empires. The empire stretched along the Andes, leaving remarkable

remnants of this great civilization. The incredible engineering skills of the Incas are source of

amazement even to this day. One site in particular is that of Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru where

there are 30 ton blocks perfectly fitting and held together by no cement. There art pieces also
played an important part in their society. Ceramics were often decorated with religious symbols.

Textiles were also produced to show status or on ceremonial occasions. They were often

decorated with bright colored paintings of such things as birds. The Inca civilization did not last

long but it left a large impact on culture.

All of these civilizations produced amazing works of art. Even though they did not leave

behind written documents, their architecture and arts are able to tell us their story. These Pre-

Columbian civilizations’ advanced architecture is remarkable given their circumstances. Even

though all of this was almost destroyed with the arrival of the Europeans, it still made and impact

throughout the world.