“the Application of Mathematics in Pre-Columbian Civilizations”

Since the commencement of human existence, personal qualities such as: the pursuit of knowledge, the desire to expand ones horizons, and the inclination to establish and follow a dream, has significantly impacted society. From the earliest days, right up until the present time, a number of accomplishments have filled the vast expanse of time. Such accomplishments span from exemplary literary works, such as those of Cicero, Virgil, and Goethe; to philosophical breakthroughs of men like Rene Descartes who said, “I think therefore I am”, and finally to the unprecedented discoveries in the fields of mathematics and science. Among all the civilizations of time, those of the Pre-Columbian Era seem to have successfully applied mathematical concepts, mainly geometry and algebra, in a somewhat uncanny manner. One cannot all but question how engineers of today’s time, men and women with almost limitless resources, suffer periodic setbacks, while structures of the primitive Pre-Columbians have remained largely intact up until the present day. Clearly no one can compare the Golden Gate Bridge, Lincoln Tunnel, and Empire State building to Pre-Columbian structures, yet the simplistic success of these ancient people causes substantial curiosity. It seems, although only a personal conjecture, that through the analysis of modern day mathematics, insight into the minds of the long lost masterminds behind some of the worlds greatest architecture and the mathematics emphasized in their extraordinary works, can be ascertained. The ancient Maya, although a civilization that first emerged during the pre-classic period, actually have a lot of similarities to the people of the modern era. Socially, politically, and even creatively, they were far more advanced then many may have assumed. However, the advancements that the Mayans made in mathematics were both intriguing and impressive. Formally, the Mayans are credited with the development of a number system based on a combination of