The economic characteristics of the Mayan, Aztec, and Inca Empires were all based on agriculture. The Mayans cultivated crops such as maize, beans, and squash, while the Aztecs relied heavily on chinampas (floating gardens), and the Incas used a system of terracing to grow potatoes, quinoa, and maize. Culturally, these empires were all highly developed and advanced. The Mayans were known for their hieroglyphic writing system and calendar, the Aztecs had a complex religious and sacrificial tradition, and the Incas had an extensive road network and architectural achievements like Machu Picchu. Politically, the Mayans were organized into independent city-states with a ruler at the top, the Aztecs had an emperor governed by a council, and the Incas were ruled by an emperor who had absolute power. Technologically, the Mayans developed advancements in mathematics, astronomy, and architecture, the Aztecs created massive floating gardens and advanced irrigation systems, and the Incas were skilled in engineering, constructing sturdy structures, and building agricultural terraces.
