
Yes the Aztecs conquered and ruled some of the Mayan territories. In fact some historians think that that conquest was the end of the Mayan empire. Many Mayans and other tribes from what today is Mexico were ruled and sometimes used as slaves by the Aztecs.
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Comparison chart.
Aztecs | Mayans | |
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Today part of | Mexico | Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. |
What is the difference between Incas, Mayans vs Aztecs?
Differences between the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas include their location and language system. The Aztecs lived in what is now central Mexico, while the Mayas lived in southern Mexico and the Inca civilization was focused around Chile and Peru. Both the Aztecs and the Mayans developed a writing system for their language, while the Incas did not.
Who came first Mayan Aztec or Inca?
Who came first Mayan Aztec or Inca? In short, the Maya came first, and settled in modern-day Mexico. Next came the Olmecs, who also settled Mexico. They didn’t build any major cities, but they were widespread and prosperous. They were followed by the Inca in modern-day Peru, and finally the Aztecs, also in modern-day Mexico.
Did the Aztecs come from the Mayans?
Yes, the Aztecs conquered and ruled some of the Mayan territories. In fact some historians think that that conquest was the end of the Mayan empire. Many Mayans and other tribes from what today is Mexico were ruled and sometimes used as slaves by the Aztecs. His boldest project yet may have gone too far.
What is the difference between Mayan and Aztecs?
What is the difference between Aztec and Mayan?
- Mayans were the first to come and settle in modern-day Mexico. ...
- People from both civilizations believed in sacrifice. ...
- Mayans were a far better civilization as they had a different approach to scientific processes.
- Mayans were interested in the study of stars and they also made a calendar which is still comparable to the one in use today. ...

Who was conquered first Aztecs or Mayans?
By 1521 the Spanish had conquered the Aztecs. They tore down much of the city of Tenochtitlan and built their own city on the site called Mexico City. The Maya civilization began as early as 2000 BC and continued to have a strong presence in Mesoamerica for over 3000 years until the Spanish arrived in 1519 AD.
Who took over Mayans?
The Spanish conquest of the Maya was a protracted conflict during the Spanish colonisation of the Americas, in which the Spanish conquistadores and their allies gradually incorporated the territory of the Late Postclassic Maya states and polities into the colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain.
Are the Aztecs and Mayans the same?
Who were the Aztecs and the Maya? Well, in fact these names are fake. The Aztecs did not call themselves Aztecs, and the Maya did not call themselves Maya. It gets complicated, but the people we now call 'Maya' actually called themselves by the name of their home town or city.
Who killed the Mayans and Aztecs?
In addition to North America's Native American populations, the Mayan and Incan civilizations were also nearly wiped out by smallpox. And other European diseases, such as measles and mumps, also took substantial tolls – altogether reducing some indigenous populations in the new world by 90 percent or more.
What killed off the Mayan civilization?
Archaeologists generally agree that the causes of the Mayan civilization decline include war, overpopulation, unsustainable practices to feed that population, and protracted drought.
Who defeated the Aztecs?
Hernán CortésSoon after the Spanish colonization of Cuba in 1519, a small army led by Hernán Cortés (1485-1547) conquered Mexico from the Aztecs.
Which is older Mayan or Aztec?
The Mayans are an older people and were around a thousand years before the Aztecs even arrived in Central America. The Aztecs were the dominant culture in Mexico at the time of Cortez's arrival in Mexico in the 1500s. The Mayans by then had deteriorated into a decadent and decrepit race living on past glory.
Who was first Mayans Aztecs or Incas?
The first of these was the Maya civilization. The Maya, Inca, and Aztecs built great civilizations in Mexico and in Central and South America between 1,800 and 500 years ago. The first of these was the Maya civilization.
How do you know if your Mayan or Aztec?
The main difference between Aztec and Mayan is that Aztec civilization was in central Mexico from 14th to 16th century and expanded throughout Mesoamerica while the Mayan empire branched all over a vast territory in northern Central America and southern Mexico from 2600 BC.
Who was worse Aztecs or Mayans?
Both the Maya and Aztecs controlled regions of what is now Mexico. The Aztecs led a more brutal, warlike lifestyle, with frequent human sacrifices, whereas the Maya favoured scientific endeavours such as mapping the stars.
Do Aztecs still exist?
Are there any Aztecs still around? Yes and no. Nowadays, around one and a half million people still speak Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. And there are quite a few indigenous peoples who perform rituals that hark back to the Aztecs.
Why did the Aztecs fall?
The Aztec had no immunity to European diseases. Smallpox spread among the indigenous people and crippled their ability to resist the Spanish. The disease devastated the Aztec people, greatly reducing their population and killing an estimated half of Tenochtitlán's inhabitants.
Are Mexicans Mayans?
Today, Maya-speaking people constitute the second largest indigenous group in Mexico, with 800,000 people living mainly in the Yucatán Peninsula in the country's southeast. Isolated culturally and geographically from other ethnicities for thousands of years, the Maya gene pool grew smaller and more homogeneous.
How were the Aztecs similar and different from the Mayans?
The Aztecs created a large empire across Mexico through tribute and trade. They built many pyramids, some of which still stand today. The Mayas had the only known fully developed written language in pre-Columbian America. Their most notable monuments are the stepped pyramids and the palaces built for Maya rulers.
What did Aztec and Maya have in common?
The civilizations of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca that once flourished in Central and South America shared common elements. People practiced farming, developed social structures, raised armies, and worshipped many gods. The three civilizations were as diverse as the terrains in which they lived.
Are there still Aztecs living today?
Are there any Aztecs still around? Yes and no. Nowadays, around one and a half million people still speak Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. And there are quite a few indigenous peoples who perform rituals that hark back to the Aztecs.
What was the rise and peak of the Aztec Empire?
Rise and Peak of Civilization. The Aztec Empire began with an alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan in order to defeat Azcapotzalco. Tenochtitlan became the dominant city in the alliance, and their empire spread through both trade and military conquest.
What did the Aztecs worship?
The Aztecs worshipped Huitzilopochtli, the personification of the sun and war, and practiced human sacrifice. According to one record, 84,400 prisoners were sacrificed in four days for the reconsecration of the Great Period of Tenochtitlan in 1487.
What was the Aztec Triple Alliance?
Introduction (from Wikipedia) The Aztec Triple Alliance or Aztec Empire (Nahuatl: Ēxcān Tlahtōlōyān) began as an alliance of three Nahua city-states or "altepeme": Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan. These city-states ruled the area in and around the Valley of Mexico. The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully ...
What language do Mexicans speak?
Most modern-day Mexicans are of mixed Aztec and European ancestry. A large amount of Aztec poetry survives, as it was collected during the conquest. The most important collection of these poems is Romances de los senores de la Nueva Espana. 1.5 million people now speak the Nahuatl language, mostly in mountainous areas in central Mexico. Many areas in Mexico City retain the original Aztec names.
Why did the Aztecs have slaves?
The Aztecs also had slaves, and individuals could become slaves due to debts, as a criminal punishment, or as war captives . All children were educated until age 14. Aztec civilization did not have draft animals or wheeled vehicles, and so roads were designed for travel on foot.
How did the Maya control their states?
It controlled its states through installing rulers, constructing marriage alliances, and asking for tribute. The Empire reached its greatest spread in 1519 CE, just prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the area. Maya civilization existed from 1800 BCE, but these settlements were widely abandoned around 100 CE.
What were the causes of the decline of the Maya?
There are many theories for this decline, including overpopulation, foreign invasion, revolt, and the collapse of trade routes. The Northern Maya cities continued to flourish until the Spanish conquest.
Question for October 2017
No, not if by “the Aztecs” we mean the Aztec Empire, before the Spaniards came. There were Aztec garrisons on the Maya frontier, and very likely plans to attack. But then the Aztecs themselves were attacked - by the Spaniards.
Did the Aztecs ever fight against the Maya? Asked by Blackheath Prep School. Chosen and answered by Professor Matthew Restall
No, not if by “the Aztecs” we mean the Aztec Empire, before the Spaniards came. There were Aztec garrisons on the Maya frontier, and very likely plans to attack. But then the Aztecs themselves were attacked - by the Spaniards.
How did the Mayans influence the Aztecs?
Mayan peoples were to pay tribute to the Aztec empire many years later. But the culture of the Mayans was to influence the Aztecs in many ways. Again, we don't always know what originated with the Mayans, and what was just general culture of the area over the centuries.#N#We do know that the Aztecs shared the Mayan love of the cacao (chocolate) bean. They would also use chewing gum as the Mayans did, use the same base-20 mathematical system, and worship many of the same gods (though re-invented to suit Aztec society).#N#The ancient Mayan people had remarkable insight into mathematics and astronomy, and other sciences such as medicine. It's likely that the Mayan influenced many peoples of Central Mexico, and eventually the world.#N#For more on the ancient Mayans, visit the Native American Indian Resources site.
What were the major cities of the Mayan civilization?
Some of the major cities were Tikal, Copan, Chunchucmil, Bonampak, and Palenque. Long distance trade was developed, and the famous Mayan pyramids (temples) were built.
What did the Mayans learn?
The ancient Mayan people had remarkable insight into mathematics and astronomy, and other sciences such as medicine. It's likely that the Mayan influenced many peoples of Central Mexico, and eventually the world. For more on the ancient Mayans, visit the Native American Indian Resources site.
When did the Mayans settle in Mexico?
It is believed today that the Mayan peoples began to settle in the Yucatan area of what is now Mexico between 2600 BC and 1800 BC.
When did the Mayan Empire come into existence?
What we now call the Mayan empire really came into its own between 250 AD and 900 AD.
Did the Aztecs use chewing gum?
We do know that the Aztecs shared the Mayan love of the cacao (chocolate) bean. They would also use chewing gum as the Mayans did, use the same base-20 mathematical system, and worship many of the same gods (though re-invented to suit Aztec society).
Why did Jacobo de Testera arrive in Champoton?
The Franciscan friar Jacobo de Testera arrived in Champoton in 1535 to attempt the peaceful incorporation of Yucatán into the Spanish Empire. His initial efforts were proving successful when Captain Lorenzo de Godoy arrived in Champoton at the command of soldiers despatched there by Montejo the Younger. Godoy and Testera were soon in conflict and the friar was forced to abandon Champoton and return to central Mexico. Godoy's attempt to subdue the Maya around Champoton was unsuccessful, so Montejo the Younger sent his cousin to take command; his diplomatic overtures to the Champoton Kowoj were successful and they submitted to Spanish rule. Champoton was the last Spanish outpost in the Yucatán Peninsula; it was increasingly isolated and the situation there became difficult.
What diseases did the Spanish introduce to the Maya?
Epidemics incidentally introduced by the Spanish included smallpox, measles and influenza. These diseases, together with typhus and yellow fever, had a major impact on Maya populations.
What kingdoms were in the highlands before the Spanish invasion?
In the decades before the Spanish invasion the Kaqchikel kingdom had been steadily eroding the kingdom of the Kʼicheʼ. Other highland groups included the Tzʼutujil around Lake Atitlán, the Mam in the western highlands and the Poqomam in the eastern highlands.
What is the Mexican state of Chiapas?
What is now the Mexican state of Chiapas was divided roughly equally between the non-Maya Zoque in the western half and Maya in the eastern half; this distribution continued up to the time of the Spanish conquest. On the eve of the conquest the highlands of Guatemala were dominated by several powerful Maya states.
What was the strategy of the Spanish?
The Spanish engaged in a strategy of concentrating native populations in newly founded colonial towns; they viewed the taking of prisoners as a hindrance to outright victory, whereas the Maya prioritised the capture of live prisoners and of booty.
What countries did the Spanish conquer?
Morocco (1957–58) Western Sahara (1975) The Spanish conquest of the Maya was a protracted conflict during the Spanish colonisation of the Americas, in which the Spanish conquistadores and their allies gradually incorporated the territory of the Late Postclassic Maya states and polities into the colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain.
When did the Spanish return to Iximche?
The Spanish only stayed briefly before continuing to Atitlan and the Pacific coast. The Spanish returned to the Kaqchikel capital on 23 July 1524 and on 27 July Pedro de Alvarado declared Iximche as the first capital of Guatemala, Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala ("St. James of the Knights of Guatemala").

Where They Lived
Time Period
- According to legend, the Aztecs saw a vision telling them to settle on an island in Lake Texcoco, which they did in 1325 CE. The city lasted until 1521 CE. Archaeologists have discovered evidence that the Maya lived in Belize in around 2600 BCE, and it’s generally accepted that settlements existed around 1800 BCE. The civilization saw its peak betw...
Rise and Peak of Civilization
- The Aztec Empire began with an alliance between Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan in order to defeat Azcapotzalco. Tenochtitlan became the dominant city in the alliance, and their empire spread through both trade and military conquest. It controlled its states through installing rulers, constructing marriagealliances, and asking for tribute. The Empire reached its greatest spread i…
Causes of Decline
- Hernan Cortes conquered Tenochtiltan in 1521, supported by a large number of indigenous allies. The city was destroyed. The Spanish then founded a new settlement, Mexico City, on the site of the capital, and began colonizing Central America. Smallpox broke out in 1520-21 and played a vital in the fall of the city, with between 10% to 50% of the population succumbing to the disease…
Achievements
- The Aztecs created a large empire across Mexico through tribute and trade. They built many pyramids, some of which still stand today. The Mayas had the only known fully developed written language in pre-Columbian America. Their most notable monuments are the stepped pyramids and the palaces built for Maya rulers.
Notable Archaeological Sites
- Although Tenochtiltan was destroyed, many notable sites remain in the Valley of Mexico. The ruins of the Templo Mayor were excavated in Mexico City in 1978. There are many major Maya sites, including Altun Ha, Cancuen, Coba, Copan, Caracol, El Mirador, Naranjo, Tikal and Yaxha. Many cavesites are also important to Maya archaeology, including Jolja Cave, the Candelaria Ca…
How They Lived
- Aztec civilization was built around corn cultivation. Society was divided between “pipiltin” (nobles) and “macehualli” (commoners), and was led by an Emperor. The Aztecs also had slaves, and individuals could become slaves due to debts, as a criminal punishment, or as war captives. All children were educated until age 14. Aztec civilization did not have draft animalsor wheeled vehi…
Legacy
- Most modern-day Mexicans are of mixed Aztec and European ancestry. A large amount of Aztec poetrysurvives, as it was collected during the conquest. The most important collection of these poems is Romances de los senores de la Nueva Espana. 1.5 million people now speak the Nahuatl language, mostly in mountainous areas in central Mexico. Many areas in Mexico City ret…
References
- Ancient Aztec Sites in Mexico - USA Today
- Palenque and the Ancient Maya World - National Geographic on YouTube
- Pyramids of the Sun - Archaeo Person on Vimeo
- Animal Remains Provide Clues to Maya Commoners - R&D Magazine