America or the New world called this continent the Europeans who discovered new lands in the 15th century. The name "America" is two United of the continent acquired, probably in honor of Amerigo Vespucci, a Florentine traveler. At that time, the aborigines inhabiting the territory on the border of North and South America had no contact with the outside world.
Many members of the tribes that inhabited the Central part of America lived a sedentary life, building villages and cities. It was dynamic and very complex culture. They have invented their own form of government, has developed an original philosophical concept, created their own religion. If the Europeans had not destroyed almost all evidence of their existence, the world would be left a rich legacy of these great civilizations.
The civilization of the Maya, Aztecs and Incas secret history of a whole continent.
After the discovery of America, in Europe began to spread the legend of the cities and gold. They awakened the greed of Spanish conquistadors, who were from that earth, like the mythical El Dorado, a land of a fast buck. The Spaniards were brutal conquest. In just a few years the Empire of the Incas and Aztecs were wiped from the face of the earth. An extraordinary flowering of these civilizations were suddenly and cruelly interrupted.
In the 19th – early 20th century rediscovery of these civilizations. It has inspired new researchers and adventurers. Risking his life, the pioneers rushed into the new lands, bringing back a mysterious history. In the depths of impenetrable jungle, in the highlands, vast stretches of abandoned cities.
Even before white people arrived on the American continent, there were an incredibly advanced civilization. The natives were not savages, as initially believed Europeans. Grand remains indicate a high level of development of society and creative culture. Already 3.5 thousand years BC in the Andes mountains flourished the great civilizations: Nazca, Tiwanaku and Inca. In the 15th century the civilization of the Incas created a huge Empire.
Mayas and Aztecs were civilizations of Central America. Starting from 2,5 thousand years BC, they shared a common culture. Initially the Mayan civilization developed in the forests of Guatemala and Chiapas (now a state in the Southeast of Mexico). She had reached the highest stage of its development in the 8th century. The Maya built Grand cities. The Supreme power was concentrated in the temples and palaces.
Tikal – the largest and most magnificent city of the Maya. He is in the jungles of Guatemala. Tikal can be proud of the highest temples, built by the Maya. The tallest of which reaches 70 meters. Today we can admire the grey ruins, which are unlikely to pass all the splendor of the ancient city. If you recreate the picture main square of Tikal, we will see that this city was dominated by red color. Their research, scientists began to determine the value of the pyramidal temples.
Not all of them were dedicated to the gods. Many were built to worship rulers. In 50-ies of the 20th century in the depths of one of the tunnels, the archaeologists found the tomb. They found the skeleton of a man, which was the jade jewelry is a symbol of immortality in Maya. It was the skeleton of a leader Hasawa Chan - Kaviya, who ruled Tikal from 834. Like the Egyptian pharaohs, the Mayan leaders were buried in pyramids and held the cult of worship.
Dominique Michelet (archaeologist): in Simple words, the leader is the head of the city. He possessed military and Executive power. And, no doubt, during the classical development of the Mayan civilization, personified the spirit of community.
Urban life was seen as a reflection of the world of the Universe. Balance and harmony are guaranteed by the leader, who had divine status. Monumental architecture is impressive in its grandeur and instilled fear. The chief was sacred. His words became myths.
On the day of his ascension to the throne, he was the morning sun that appeared on the horizon and rose into the sky. On the day of his death, he was the setting sun slowly sank below the horizon. These legends are associated with time cycles. Maya always watched the sky and motion of celestial bodies.