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The Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations had some great similarities with the Ancient Egyptians, through religion and funeral rites which were intimately linked. As with the Ancient Egyptians, the burial rituals for rulers were very elaborate. A few similarities are:
building false chambers, entombing rulers inside pyramids, and burying items and servants with the deceased to accompany them in the afterlife.In 1952, the tomb of Lord Pakal was discovered by Alberto Ruiz Llhuilleur. It was discovered inside the temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque. The lid of the sarcophagus is carved and weighs five tons and is still on display. Several companions were buried with him and a fine jade mask. The mask which is a likeness to the deceased is included, so that when the body deteriorates, the features will still be recognizable to the Lords of the Underworld. The items buried with an individual showed their importance in the past life, and helped to assure they would be treated accordingly in their next life.
The Pre Classical Period dealt with other civilizations besides the Olmec (3500 B.C.-300 A.D.). In Europe there was the Classical Greek Culture (1200 B.C.-323 B.C.). Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C. The Roman Empire was founded in 753 B.C. In other parts of the world we have the Egyptian Pyramids (2613-2494 B.C.). In Mesopotamia there is Hammurabi's Code (1700 B.C.). Buddha is born in 563 B.C.
By 1000 BCE the civilizations of the eastern hemisphere were no longer confined to farming villages and nomad camps. Cities and towns were appearing, population was growing and interregional trade was expanding.
During this time, several civilizations would develop cultural styles and systems of thought that would influence their neighbors and endure for centuries. Six major religions would emerge: Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Brahmanism/Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
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