What technology was available to the Aztec/Maya empires at their height?

[BobROE]

They DIDN'T have the wheel.

For good insight into the Mayan cosmology and the importance of astronomy I reccommend "Maya Cosmos: Three Thousand Years On THe Shaman's Path" by Freidel, Schele and Parker. Published 1993. I have seen it in paperback at major book retailers. It explains how the Mayans looked at the rotation of the Milkyway and how it tells the story of the Mayan creation myth.

Hope that will help.

Well they did have the wheel but since they didn't have any beasts of burden they didn't use it for useful tools/work. But you did find wheels on toys and the like.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

They DIDN'T have the wheel.

For good insight into the Mayan cosmology and the importance of astronomy I reccommend "Maya Cosmos: Three Thousand Years On THe Shaman's Path" by Freidel, Schele and Parker. Published 1993. I have seen it in paperback at major book retailers. It explains how the Mayans looked at the rotation of the Milkyway and how it tells the story of the Mayan creation myth.

Hope that will help.

Actually they did, they used it on toys, and, as was cited in this paper, may have used it for other purposes as well.

The Auld Grump

 

[Tristissima]

Can anyone elaborate on this Grand Machine idea? It might fit certain NPCs quite nicely, if not general philosophical thrusts.

Also, slightly uncertain. Maya/Aztecs had/used available copper in any great amount, or was that Inca only?

 

[HinterWelt]

Can anyone elaborate on this Grand Machine idea? It might fit certain NPCs quite nicely, if not general philosophical thrusts.

Also, slightly uncertain. Maya/Aztecs had/used available copper in any great amount, or was that Inca only?

Just so we're clear, the Aztecs had a different view on the cosmology of the world. They were attempting to stve off the next cycle. Different than the Maya.

So, the Maya tended to look on the world as a basically ordered place. The universe flowed in a predetermined form determined by the motion of the stars. The stars were read and recorded in such a manner that the Mayan calendar reflected a very accurate, including many aspects that only modern astronomers have been able to reproduce (retrogrades and things like that), so that they could then look forward. If you wished to do anything of import in the Mayan Empire you would consult a "shaman" and he would look at their calendar. The calendar not only told them the "tuesday the 14th" is a bad day for selling jade but then, they could make sacrifices/perform rituals to affect the results. Some days were just too horrible (I think it was a five day period when the first round rolls to tne second but my references are elsewhere right now) and you more or less hid out. Some theorize that this was a control method for shaman and later for the priest class but it seems well founded in the Mayan culture.

Undrstand though that we are still learning a lot about the Maya and there is still much that can only be called supposition. We have only a few codices to work from and the archaeological record. So, just don't base your PhD thesis on this thread.

Bill

 

[Steverooo]

Copper has already been mentioned, but they did have bronze (although they were apparently hindered by a lack of tin, so they were rare). One (at least) of these cultures had some, however, and used it to make bronze tools for (get this!) brain surgery! Skulls that had been cut open (and regrown, proving that it was not just some sacrifice) have been found, along with the tools!

That's pretty advanced, for a neolithic culture! Obsidian is actually SHARPER than steel, the problem is that it just breaks too easily... "A Magical Mechichan Society" will have access to Glassteel to solve that problem, and won't really need metals, as much.

The problem will arise in overcoming the DR of those werejaguars without silver, or those lower planar beings without Cold Iron!

 

[Ceresco]

Actually they did, they used it on toys, and, as was cited in this paper, may have used it for other purposes as well.

The Auld Grump

Thanks for reminding me. I had forgot about toys with wheels. Comes from not keeping up with the literature. I left anthropology/archeaology as a regular field of study after the mid-90's and only read "Maya Cosmos" becuase I was researching alternate cosmologies for a setting I've been working on over the years. My opus setting as it were, still a work in progress.

 

[Vraille Darkfang]

The Aztecs nearly got to the point where metal would be necessary, but the Spaniards showed up and made a few changes.

Congradulations!

You are now Bearer of the "Biggest Understatement in a Post or Thread on ENWorld" Title!

 

[lukelightning]

I hear they had advance horology. snicker snicker

(paraphrased from Terry Pratchet's Eric.)

 

[loki44]

Inter-galactic space travel. How else could they build them there pyramids?

 

[lukelightning]

Just so we're clear, the Aztecs had a different view on the cosmology of the world. They were attempting to stve off the next cycle.

Sounds like the Quori mischief to me!