Without the ability to read ancient Chinese and Maya text, we would be limited to archeological findings and guesses made based on them. The fact, that we can read ancient texts, let us know for example:
the names and times of rule of many rulers,
the religious practices
some events from the past
some cultural and technological inventions such as their knowledge of astronomy
the social composition of the society
Our knowledge of urban live comes from the description of customs and occational information about who lived where and how much was paid for what services
It made it easier to get things from 1 place to another
Because white people did not want black sitting next to them on a bus and not share water fountain. hope it helps u :)
