Chinese civilization and Mayan civilization

Chinese civilization and Mayan civilization

Introduction

Around two and a half million years ago up to ten thousand B.C., ancient people lived in caves, tepees, or simple huts. They were hunters and gatherers, and they used animal skins as clothes. In hunting wild animals and birds, they used stones, and tools made of bones and crude stone axes as well. The earliest civilization occurred in Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq and later appeared in Egypt. Civilization occurs when a place or society reaches a stage of cultural and social organization and development (Árpád, 39). This is stage must be the most advanced for it to be considered as civilization. Apart from cultural and social development, civilization goes in line with developed forms of government, industry as well as the common social norms. Chinese civilization occurred between 1600-221 BC). Before the 16^th century,

the Mayan were known as Mesoamerica as they comprised of the two indigenous communities. The Mayan civilization was one of the most controlling as they were located in one geographical block covering the western part of El Salvador and Honduras and some parts of Mexican states. Civilization has brought about industries, thus the development of machines to make work easier, symbolic arts and sciences. This paper compares the Chinese civilization and Mayan civilization.

Comparison of the Chinese Civilization and the Mayan Civilization.

Although the Chinese and the Mayan communities are thousands miles away from each other, researchers have noted that the ancient civilizations have so much in common. To begin with, both the Chinese and the Mayan civilization first occurred over natural resources. The Chinese civilization originated on the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. Farmers living along the two rivers utilized the warm climate and grew rice. The Mayan civilization, on the other hand, occurred when the Mayan people started to settle in the Yucatan area down to Honduras (Matthew, 50). The Maya cities had been built near the rivers, which were the only source of water for human and animal consumption.

Additionally, the Mayan civilization led to the building of pyramid-like temples for religious purposes and was used when performing religious rituals. However, they still hold on to the ancient believes like earthquakes occur when the gods that support the earth shifts his burdens. The Chinese also yet follow most of the beliefs initiated in ancient times (Chung, 512). Buddhism, Confucianism, Toaism, and other ancient religion combined to form the Chinese culture.

Lastly, the Mayan civilization brought about industrialization. Instead of using stones and bone made tools, for instance, in hunting during ancient times, civilization led to the development of machines and tools made of metal to replace bone. Metallic tools were more durable than those made of bones, and they work more efficiently, thus making work easier (Angulo. et al., 134). Similarly, Chinese civilization led to new inventions such as automated machines. Both the Mayan and Chinese civilization has led to great inventions which have contributed to economic growth.

 

The contrast between the Chinese Civilization and the Mayan Civilization.

The Chinese civilization contradicts with the Mayan civilization. For instance, the ancient Chinese religion combines to form the Chinese culture, which gives them a sense of bringing (Zhang et al., 11). The Mayan civilization, on the other hand, is different. Although most Maya has embraced the ancient Maya ideas, some still hold on to the belief that their village is the World’s ceremonial center supported by their gods at the four corners.

The Chinese civilization for over four thousand years while the Mayan only lasted for three thousand years before its fall. Chinese civilization will remain in the history books. This is due to its success and that a lot has been written before civilization. Moreover, the ancient Maya wrote on books made of paper, which they made from tree barks. For this reason, their culture and history became known. Their work in art and architecture, especially in carving stones and inscription monuments, remain known even after the fall of their civilization (Heckbert et al., 302) The Chinese civilization on the hand multiplied, and modern China has been ranked among the highly developed in terms of technology.

 

Researchers have proved that Chinese history is the longest and the most continuous of all the countries in the World. Together with India, Babylon, and Egypt, China has been recognized among the great ancient civilizations. The Chinese civilization is the oldest with written history for over four thousand years. The Chinese civilization was more successful than the Mayan civilization. Besides, China has surpassed other cultures in philosophy and art, as it is known for its great creativity. The Mayan civilization did not last long before its fall, which led to the abandonment of the Classic cities they had built in the Southern lowland. By the ninth century, civilization had collapsed (Linda et al., 18). It is for this reason that Chinese civilization is rendered more successful than the Mayan civilization.