The Development of Science in Mesoamerica

Introduction

The term Mesoamerica is literally means Middle/ Central America; it is derived from Greek word which
meso means “Middle” or “Intermediate”.

Mesoamerica includes the entire area of Central America from southern Mexico up to the boarder of
South America. Mesoamerican peoples included a complex pantheon of deities, architectural features, a
ballgame, the 260-day calendar, trade, food (especially a reliance on maize, beans, and squash), dress,
and accoutrements (such as earspools).

Some of the well-known Mesoamerican cultures are the Olmec, Maya, Inca and Aztec (or Mexica).

Science and Technology in Mesoamerica

Agriculture

In early period or hunter-gatherer period of Mesoamerica, people had a lifestyle that was based on a
combination of hunting, gathering, and fishing. Until such time Olmec Civilization flourishes in
Mesoamerica and it is the first major civilization in Mesoamerica. The name Olmec is a Nahuatl—the
Aztec language word; it means the rubber people. They introduced farming activities like planting many
crops where corn or maize is the first cultivation. While Maya Civilization who made the greatest
progress in science and technology, they developed an advanced tools and machineries that is use for
growing their crops like the hydarulic system or sophisticated waterways. And the Aztecs were famous
for their agriculture, cultivating all available land, introducing irrigation, draining swamps, and creating
artificial islands in the lakes. Inca is also into plant cultivation where maize was not only produced by the
states.

Astronomy

Where the observtion of the sky had an important role among the Mayan, Aztec, Inca and other
prehispanic people of Mesoamerica. They had made calendars for planting and harvesting season, rituals
and cultural celebration through the used of buildings and structures alignment just with astronomical
observation and astrological cycles.

Achitecture

Mesoamerican people are known for building and structures like amazing pyramids and temples
especially the mayan and aztecs people who are famous with it while Inca empire strength was civil
engineering (road and bridge construction).

Mathematics

As Mayan had the greatest progress in Science, mathematics is one among of their innovations.
were the position-value number system with zero.Mesoamerica is where they developed the
numbering system.

Arts

Mesoamerica is the first civilization who use writing system known as heiroglyohics where Mayan is the
first to ise it just developed by the Aztecs. The colossal head of Olmec are also famous for the sculptures
and stone monuments of mesoamerica where all civilization adapted and developed it through rock
carving.The Inca textiles are also famaous for it is contain pattern stuctures and symbols,which they carry
messages that only expert can decipher. And lastly,establishing public school system.

In Mesoamerican Civilization, many new technologies and strategies were invented included the
construction of durable buildings such as pit houses, intensive techniques of cultivation and resource
exploitation, new industries including ceramics, weaving, storage, and prismatic blades. The first
sedentism appears about the same time as maize, and over time more and more people gave up mobile
hunter-gatherer life, transition from village life to a more complex social and political organization, and
elaborate architecture.

Contribution of Mesoamerica in the field of science

Achievements of Math and Science in Mesoamerica. In what is now Central and South America,
there were three highly advanced ancient civilizations: The Aztecs, the Maya, and the Inca. All three of
these achieved incredible feats of engineering and science because they highly valued education.