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The Mayan civilization reigned from southeastern Mexico to present-day Guatemala. In times of war, the Mayans had no military, therefore, citizens had to provide military service. The Maya civilization practiced polytheism. Mayans also developed a complex writing system and relied on a calendar, Long Count. Priests relied on this calendar to celebrate religious ceremonies or plan when to go to war. Lastly, the Mayans were one of the few civilizations who performed human sacrifice.

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Cahokia was a city-state and was a large trading city. The Cahokians canoed along the river to trade maize, beans, and squash. The people of Cahokia built large religious centers, earthen mounds. In these religious centers, the Cahokians practiced animism. There has been evidence of human sacrifice occurring in religious mounds. The Monk Mound was a grand plaza used for religious ceremonies and hosting chunkey games. The soil in Cahokia had some of the richest agricultural soil.

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The Chaco Canyon served as the center of the civilization. There was a trading, ceremonial, and administrative center. Surrounding the center there were large pueblo buildings. The Pueblo people did not develop a writing system. The Chaco civilization relied on monarchy, the heir was inherited on the mom's side. However, when no male heir was available, a female was to become queen. Chaco participated in trade with local civilizations. Two of the most important imports of trade were cacao and scarlet macaws.

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Mesa Verde was home to the Pueblo People. The people moved from the edge of Mesa to the center and they grew corn, squash, and beans. They created pottery and the bow and arrow. People would gather around the Great Kivas and this is were the community met. Around A.D. 850 and 930 people started moving away from Mesa Verde to the south, but after A.D. 930 people started moving back. Mesa Verde took part in a vast trade network, this was found because there was Chaco-style pottery, macaw-feather sashes, and copper bells.

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The reason behind the Chaco's decline is also not known. Hence, it is assumed that since citizens abandoned Chaco, due to major droughts that made the Chaco people relocate. However, other scientists argue that there is not sufficient evidence of a major drought. The Chaco was able to maintain power by making the Chaco Canyon the center of civilization. In the center, there were many religious buildings, trading posts, and political buildings. Since it was the "capital" that is where all political power was managed.

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Some believe the Inca was created by the sun god. The empire started expanding by the fourth emperor, Mayta Capca. Inca pantheon had an array of gods, there were also regional deities. Inca gods were honored by prayers, fasting, and human sacrifice. Mummification was an important part of Inca funerary rites. The Inca diet included sweet potatoes, quinoa, beans, and chili peppers. People of Inca did not use writing, they used quipu, which was a bunch of knotted colored ropes, to communicate. The Inca had a lack of a market system and money. There were no shops or markets therefore there wasn't a currency. The emperor included conquered people into the empire. Provinces were made with inspectors recorded on quipu.

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The people of Aztec had a powerful king and conquered other tribes. They had a centralized government that allowed them to take captives from weaker tribes. They were Polytheistic, with the sun god, and were known for human sacrifices. They were popular for their chinampas, "floating gardens". They developed roads that were well kept and boosted trade for them. They exported ceramic goods, lake salt, and other exotic luxuries. By 1430 C.E. they had embodied features of surrounding tribes and grew into a structural society, the military became very powerful.

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The final collapse of Mesa Verde happened when people migrated to the south again, Mexico and Arizona. Some believed reasons for this was the climate change, population growth, and conflict. Other reasons were war, droughts, and low food resources.

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The decline of the Cahokia is also unknown. The people abandoned Cahokia near 1450 and other large Mississippian cities by 1600. Theories suggest that flooding or other natural disasters cause crop failure. Another theory is that the Europeans decreased the population. The Cahokians were able to maintain order by relying on a hierarchy. On the top of the hierarchy was a chief called the Great Sun, lower in class were farmers, hunters, merchants, and artisans. At the bottom of the social class were slaves who were prisoners of war.

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The people of Aztec were under war with Hernan Cortes and his Spanish army. They overthrew the Mexica ruler and this was because of the Spaniards strong weaponry and their strong fighting tactics. There was also and outbreak of smallpox and other diseases which caused them to be weak. Mexico gained its independence in 1821 C.E. after being under Spanish rule.

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The Spanish conquered the Inca empire. The Spanish crossed the waters they brought their strongest weapon and diseases, smallpox knocked out the majority of the population including Capac. Francisco Pizarro captured Atahualpa, killing him and taking over cusco.

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The Mayans were not unified politically. Instead, they made other people pay tribute to maintain their political power. Also, the Maya civilization was made up of city-states. A king ruled each city-state. The decline of the Mayans is unknown. However, theories suggest the decline was due to warfare, agricultural crisis, famine, or environmental change (deforestation and drought).