(Originais Teachy 2024) - Question Hard of History

Before the arrival of Europeans to the American continent, vast and complex civilizations were already flourishing, challenging the Eurocentric view that for a long time disregarded the cultural richness and social organization of these peoples. Mesoamerica, a region that stretches from central Mexico to Honduras, was the stage for societies like the Maya, the Toltecs, and the Aztecs, each with their own particularities and legacies. In '1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus,' Charles C. Mann reflects: 'Mesoamerica, far from being a homogeneous mosaic, was a set of distinct cultures, an evolving system that echoed, in many ways, the ongoing transformations in the Old World. It was a wealth of innovations, from writing to agriculture, that Europeans would take centuries to match.' Considering the context of Mesoamerica and the cultural and technological diversity of its peoples, discuss: 1) In what ways did the political and social structures of these Mesoamerican civilizations challenge European preconceptions about the 'New World'? 2) Evaluate the impact that the technological and cultural innovations developed by these peoples could have had, if not for the interruption imposed by contact with the Europeans.