The ancient mayan civilization occupied the eastern third of  MesoAmerica the Yucatan Peninsula. The Topography of the Mayan Civilization is greatly varied from volcanic mountains which comprised the highlands in the south to porous limestone shelf, known as the lowlands which were covered by rain forests with the average height of about 150 feet. Scattered savannas and swamps, interupt the dense rainforests. The Northen lowlands were also comprised of rain forests but they were much dryer mainly,  they were growing small thorny trees. Many  dangerous animals occupied the Mayan region such as the jaguar, the caiman (crocodile), bull shark, snakes, deer turkey, peccaries, tapirs, rabbits, rodents , peca, agouti and many varieties of monkeys and quetzal occupied the upper canopy. The rainfall was as high as 160 inches per year. MAYAN warfare and INCA warfare- The Mayans were familiar with tactical warfare throughout their 2,000 year history though unlike most ancient civilizations, the use of horses and chariots was not a part of their Mayan warfare.  Most Mayan weapons could only be used from a distance. Weapons used by the Mayans include the bow and arrow, blow guns,  speares,axes,knives with blades of volcanic glass and spear throwing slings called 'atatls'. Helmets were not common and their armour was mostly simply tight woven cloth with sheilds made of animal skin. Barricades and trenches were very popular devices in Mayan warfare, they would also eat the heart of their enemies when killed because they believed by eating the heart of their enemy it would give them a little bit of that warriors strength.The Inca army was the most powerful army in this time because they could turn and ordinary villager or farmer into a soldier. This is because every male Inca at least once had to take part in the war.The Incas had no iron or steel and their weapons were no better than the ones of their enemies.The armour used by Incas included helmets made of copper,wood,cane, bone or copper cloth tunics padded with cotton and small wooden planks to protect there spine.The Mayan economy was based on food and agriculture. Farmers were a big part of the Mayan economy. Since they were the ones that got the food for the civilization. Cocoa and cotton were cash crops for the Mayans and were also used to trade. The only animals they raised were turkeys, guinea pigs, ducks and edible dogs therefore the Mayan economy was capitalism. The Inca economy was based on trade and services. This was due to the fact that they had no taxes on their crops.

The Mayans lived in the area in Central America

which now consists of Yucatan,Guatemala,Belize and southern Mexico. It lies north of the equator. This region flourished from 300 A.D -

900 A.D. The northern Yucatan Peninsula was the place theMayans had dominance.

THE MAYAN PEOPLE- The Mayan people had copper brown skin and black hair and were only about five feet tall. They tattoed and scarred their bodies and pierced their ears. They deformed their infants skulls with flat boards to form sloped foreheads. They thought crossed eyes were attractive so they hung beads infront of their infants eyes to make them cross.

There was a distinct class in Mayan times Between the ruling class and the farmer/laborer there must have been an educated nobility who were scribes,artists and architects. Their talent remains in art on stone, bone pottery etc.Marriage - between people of the same gender was forbidden and those who violated this law were regarded as outcasts and were sacrifieced.

The Incan Empire was located in South America in the country of Peru. Although the empire was huge it can now be easily divided into 3 regions. Mountains,jungles and deserts.The Inca built bridges across the gorges so they could reach any part of their empire quick and easily. If an enemy approached they could just burn the bridges.THE FALL- The Incan empire fell when the spanish conquest ocurred in 1532 when Francisco Pizzaro arrived in South America upon meeting and being welcomed by the emperor Atahualpa captured him and held ransom for him before killing him.Pizzaro was able to get 50 million dollars from the Incas just to let their Emperor free. Then in 1533 Pizzaro entered the cuzco the Incas resisted the conquest as long as they could but eventually they were conquered. Not only did th spaniards conquere the Incan Empire they also greatly hispanicied it. The Incan religion- The Inca were very religious people sorcerors served as protectors of spirits. They also saved nail clippings, hair and teeth because they thought that a spirit would return and need them. They worshipped the earth goddess Pachamama and the sun god the Inti. The Mayan empire declined in during the 8th and the 9th century. The Mayans and the Inca did have slaves because the spaniards and portuguese inhanced slavery in those times.