American Civilization discusses the nature of American social structures, their evolution over time through an on-going social debate and their relation to the diverse complexity of the United States' physical landscape. It is a vital introduction to the crucial and complex identities of Ameri.
Ancient America was home to sophisticated civilizations such as the Maya, Inca, Olmec and Aztec societies, and mysterious ruins like Chichen Itza, Teotihuacan, Serpent Mound, Tikal, Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines
Serpent Mound may have further had temporal significance—the head of the serpent aligns with the summer solstice sunset while the tail points to the winter solstice sunrise. As such, ancient peoples may have used the structure to mark time or seasons. Many anthropologists believe that the shape of the Serpent Mound is actually a massive lunar calendar, built to align with solstices and equinoxes. Animal mounds are widely considered to be effigies reflective of cosmic alignments. In fact, the towns and surviving structures also reflect this interest in the cosmos. Early researchers suggested that the very shape of the bluff upon which the serpent was worked evoked a giant reptile, thereby explaining the original selection of the site. The exact function of the great mound, within the clay structure of which no culturally identifiable objects have yet been located, is uncertain.
Tikal, a major Pre-Columbian political, economic and military centre, is one of the most important archaeological complexes left by the Maya civilization. Tikal, a major Pre-Columbian political, economic and military centre, is one of the most important archaeological complexes left by the Maya civilization. Tikal is a Mayan ruin site that features five huge temples. One temple is actually 65 meters (213 feet) tall and is believed to be the tallest Mayan temple ever built! Tikal is one of the most impressive ancient ruins you can visit in Central America and one of the most beautiful ruins to visit in the entire world.
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a 2,430-
meter (7,970 ft) mountain ridge. Often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas", it is the most familiar icon of the Inca Empire. More than 7,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is the most visitedw tourist destination in Peru. A symbol of the Incan Empire and built around 1450AD, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in u1983 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. According to archaeologists Machu Picchu was built as a sanctuary for the royal family. for, may have hoped for a peaceful getaway to escape Cusco city life.