There are many ways in which historians can find evidence to support characterization of American Civilizations before 1500. By looking at Mesoamerican burials, historians have evidence of the Mesoamerican social system

-burial
-roads, pyramids, ruins, texts, human/animal remains, Europeans, people/clans of today that would have carried on the tradition

From historical texts: tribute system.

-art, pottery, culture, tech.
From Guatemala to Arizona, archaeologists have found evidence of an ancient ball game played with a solid rudder ball on slop-sided courts shaped like a capital T.

Among the Maya the game was associated with a creation myth and thus had deep religious meaning. There is evidence that some players were sacrificed. Many of these paintings were found on ceramic jars and pottery.

Building on what the Olmecs had done, the Maya made important contributions to the development of the Mesoamerican calendar and to mathematics and writing. Like other peoples throughout Mesoamerica, the Maya had a calendar that tracked the ritual cycle.

Artistic specialization of each region.

Alpacas and llamas found in fossils. Were first domesticated in Mesoamerica. -In1407 20,000 men and women sacrificed to please gods, because famine and war.

-characterization: Power wasn't solely in the hands of the king.
When the Spanish came, they seized control over Montezuma king of the Aztecs and then the people didn't like it and had him killed shows characteristic of how power was more broadly shared among the elite.

Only the elites can perform religious tasks such as human sacrifice.

-pyramids, ruins, building feats,
Display power of elite to organize building of structures. Labor force needed to construct architecture shows the organization need to be carried out by the elites and the king.

The Great Plaza at Tikal is still visible in the ruins of Tikal, in modern Guatemala, are the impressive architectural and artistic achievements of the classic-era Maya. , and pueblos=Mesa Verde, Casa Grande.

In the most powerful cities, they had religious temples and pyramids that drew people to the centers from outer regions.

Mound building for the elite.

Inca: city: laid out in the shape of a giant puma (religious=jaguar was a religious symbol). roads=political power, need for organization and trade. Built suspension bridges. Inca roads can be compared to the Roman roads. Inca Tunic: Andean weavers produced beautiful textiles form cotton and from the wool of llamas and alpacas. The Inca inherited this rich craft tradition and produced some of the world's most remarkable textiles. The quality and design of each garment indicated the weaver's rank and power in this society. tools: made out of bronze. CCOT used to be made out of stone.

-European records
European aspects on human sacrifice.

-agricultural and architectural achievements
Irrigation: Terracing