e Pre-
Columbian

Architecture by Meghan Ashley B. Bantog

Th
 Pre-
Columbian Architectural Characters Building Materials Religion, Practices, and Culture Sample Iconic Structures
Era
The Aztecs had leaders like monarch and
they worshiped gods which brought the
The notable architectural features
- purpose of their temples and their belief in
in the Aztec Civilization are their Stones
- human sacri ce. Wars were also present
temples, platforms on buildings, Limestone
- during their era where conquistadors
Aztecs and gures of creatures like: Sunstone
- destroyed their buildings. Moreover, there
eagles, snakes, and sea creatures Wood materials (for
were also presence of small towns due to
which the Aztecs considered as beams and doors)
people being nomadic. Despite these, the
symbols of power.
economy of the Aztecs were rich, they had
many merchants and trade was common. Model of the Aztec’s Templo Mayor

Similar to the Aztecs, Mayan

architecture also has temples and - The Mayans worshipped gods which is the
Stone
pyramids. The Mayans are known - reason for their temples and other religious
Limestone
for intricate symbols in their - structures. They also enjoyed sports which
Mayans Wood
architecture for example, their - brought about their spaces used for sports.
Stucco (painted in red
haab which was used as a Other than these, they also incorporated
yellow green blue)
calendar. They are also known for town planning during their era.
their statues and monuments. Kukulcan Temple

The Incas are also notable for - Stone

- Astronomy was common in the Inca
their temples, aside from this they Limestone Machu Picchu
- civilization which is why they had built
also had shrines and their Andesite
- spaces to be used for astronomy purposes.
buildings were rectangular in Diorite
They also had spaces used for military forces.
shape but they stated
Incas Moreover, they had ceremonial sites just like
incorporating curved walls over Their layered stone
the Mayans. Other than these, they did not
time. They are also known for buildings were well
have written history therefore no other
their gateways and structures preserved and
records about their culture, traditions, and
called ushnu which they used for earthquake resistant in
beliefs.
ceremonies. the span of 500 years

A main contributor in the architectural

history of the Mound Builders is agriculture.
Mound Builders were known for Due to their growing agriculture, the
the steps they built and their wide - Stone population also rose which affected their
use of earthen materials in their - Sediments practices and brought about mass burials.
Mound architecture. It is also said that - Clay Their structures also shifted from residential
Builders they used vertical wooden posts - Other natural and to elite use and they incorporated planned
and limestone layers for their earthen materials grid systems like the Mayans. It is also
buildings. speculated that there were also wars during
their time since palisades were common in Cahokia Monks Mound
their area.
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