Compare And Contrast The Mayan Temple Of The Great Jaguar

One similarity between the ways that African and Mesoamerican rulers used art and architecture is that many large structures were built to mark places of worship or religious significance in order to create a sense of unity among citizens and to retain power and social order. In Mesoamerica, the Mayan Temple of the Great Jaguar in Tijal, one of the tallest structures n the Mayan civilization, helped to diffuse the idea of worshipping the Tiakli ruler. A majority of Mayans worshipped the leader, which created a sense of unity between people. Having one common deity throughout the city reduced religious tensions and allowed for peace between people. Furthermore, his successors, notably Yik'in Chan K'awiil, could use the religious structure to

These pyramids furthered the sense of unity between citizens, while continuing to demonstrate the vast power of the government. Similarly, in Africa, the city of Axum used monumental architecture to spread the state religion and maintain order. Some buildings were, at the time, the largest structure in the world, which demonstrated the power of Axum’s government. Using large religious buildings helped spread the state sponsored religion of Christianity throughout the area. With the majority of Axum citizens following one faith, social order and peace was maintained. One such religious monument, known as the Columns of Axum, served as a sort of tomb for the kingdom’s past rulers. This structure demonstrated the unmatched authority of the government, for no structure of this magnitude was previously built. Additionally, the government of Axum used an artistic approach in their monetary system. As Christianity grew in the society, the government began printing coins with the Christian cross stamped into them. This aided in the spread of the religion, further unifying the citizens of