Question

How did earlier civilizations influence the Mayan civilization's art and architecture?

Answer 1

Answer:

The Mayan art that includes its architecture, murals, writing and books, ceramics, precious stones and other sculpture and body decoration materials, are strongly influenced by the Olmec, Toltec and Teotihuacan culture.

The main Preclassic sculptural style of the Mayan area was that of Izapa, an extensive town on the Pacific coast, where many stelae and altars (frog-shaped) were found that include motifs also present in Olmec art. On the other hand, we can see that human representations with aspects of animals that were carved in wood have many characteristics of the Teotihuacan style.

Answer 2

The Olmecs inspired the Mayans to practice religious rituals in specially buildings yet the Spanish destroyed most of this architecture.<span />