The Aztecs and the Mayans were two ancient societies in Meso America. The Mayan civilization goes back to about 1800-2000 BC and was in decline when the Spaniards arrived whereas the Aztecs were a much younger civilization that was at its peak when Cortez arrived. The Aztecs were located mostly in what is now Mexico whereas the Mayans were more in what is now Guatemala and Honduras. Both the Aztecs and Mayans believed in human sacrifice but the Aztecs did this much more than the Mayans. While the Aztecs layed out their cities according to celestial observances, the Mayans were more scientific and developed a calendar very similar to our modern calendar. The Aztecs had one supreme ruler whereas the Mayans had many city states like Uxmal in Guatemala and Copan in Honduras with local rulers.
The transcontinental railroad transformed the west because it made the idea of manifest destiny so much easier to achieve. The railroads also gave access to many trade spots, which in result connected them all, making the economy of America BOOM.
The Cold War and it was a it was a nuclear missile war.
