Final answer:
The Mound Builders and the Aztec civilization differed in geographical location, architectural styles, religious practices, and the presence of a writing system. While the Mound Builders created burial mounds and earthworks in North America without human sacrifices or a known writing system, the Aztecs built sophisticated temples and practiced human sacrifices in Central America and left hieroglyphic records.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we compare the Mound Builders to the Aztec civilization, there are several notable points of contrast and similarity. First, the geographical context differs significantly; the Mound Builders were situated primarily in North America, mainly around the Mississippi River Valley, while the Aztecs founded their empire in Central America, with Tenochtitlan as their capital. Secondly, both cultures were remarkable for their construction projects: the Mound Builders were renowned for their burial mounds and earthworks, some of which served as elite burial sites and religious centers, whereas the Aztecs erected grand temples and pyramids, such as the impressive Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan.
The religious practices of these civilizations diverged as well; notably, the Aztecs are known for incorporating human sacrifice into their rituals to appease their gods, a practice not observed in the Mound Builder society. Another crucial difference is in record-keeping; the Aztecs possessed a complex system of hieroglyphic writing, providing rich historical and cultural records, unlike the Mound Builders who left no written records that we know of. Despite these differences, both civilizations developed sophisticated social structures with hierarchical systems encompassing a ruling elite, a priestly class, and commoners engaged in various occupations such as farming, craftsmanship, and trade.