9781422286845

architecture

covered with smooth limestone. These tall structures were considered to be holy places, for they linked the earth and the heavens. Some had dramatic steps that climbed the front of the pyramids to temples on top. Others were burial chambers for royalty. The culture of the Maya was very sophisticated, and they built more complicated structures than other ancient Mexican cultures. For example, the corbel vault found in Mayan architecture is the only example of an arch found in pre-Hispanic buildings. The Maya needed to understand complex math to figure out how to build the arch so it would not collapse. Separated from Mayan territory by jungle and mountains was another culture of great builders. The ruins of the city of Teotihuacán, built by the dominant culture of

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The entrance to this palace in the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal is an example of a corbel vault. This feature is commonly found in Mayan architecture.