Teaching Astronomy in Other Cultures: Archeoastronomy

Extract

Mesoamerica is a large zone that includes most of Mexico and Central America. In that region one of the few written languages was invented. A large civilization flourished thanks to the discovery of agriculture and the use of a mixture of corn, beans, squash and peppers that conveys a high nutritional content. In this part of the world there are mainly two seasons, the dry and rainy periods. The slave driven civilization that developed in this part of the world consequently divided the civil year in two, mainly dedicated to agriculture and construction. A good calendar was needed for central planning and commerce.