ANCIENT EGYPT VS. ANCIENT MESOAMERICA

How could the Egyptians and the Mesoamericans be similar even though they lived half a world apart?

Ancient Egyptian pyramids are very similar to Mayan temples, and were used for almost the same reason! Mayan temples were used for praying to the gods, while Egyptian pyramids were used as tombs. The one below is Egyptian, the one to the right is Mayan.

Calendars!

Can you guess which is which?

Aztec

Culture

Pharaoh

Priests and Nobles

Traders, Artisans, scribes

Farmers and Herders

Unskilled workers

Slaves

King or Emperor

Nobles

Commoners

Unskilled workers

Slaves

Egyptian Aztec/Incan

Women in both Mesoamerica and Ancient Egypt were respected more than they were in other ancient civilizations. In one statue, and Aztec women was wearing a war headdress and being carried by soldiers. In Ancient Egypt women could actually be Pharaoh or Queen.

The Mesoamericans and the Egyptians both believed that their ruler, pharaoh, king, or emperor was part god or descended from a god.

Of course, as you probably know, the Mayans had sacrificial ceremonies. They believed that the gods gave their life giving fluid, rain, to them, so they gave their life giving fluid, blood, to the gods! Of course being sacrificed was usually an honor. The Aztecs usually only sacrificed if their was an earthquake or other catastrophe.

The Incans and the Egyptians had similar gods. The right is Egyptian, left is Incan.

• The Mayans had a game similar to soccer where the losers got sacrificed.

• The Incas had one of the biggest empires of their time.

• The Incans have stone walls that are 100s of feet tall made of 20 ton rocks that were actually melted together. An Incan story says that their “Space Brothers” came down and gave them a chemical that could melt rock.