While the former ruled the roost in Central America the latter held sway in the western South America. The Mayans are an older people and were around a thousand years before the Aztecs even arrived in Central America. The Aztecs were the dominant culture in Mexico at the time of Cortez's arrival in Mexico in the 1500s.

Did Mayans come before Aztecs?

The three most dominant and advanced civilizations that developed in the Americas prior to the arrival of the Europeans were the Aztecs, the Maya, and the Inca. The Aztec Empire was located in central Mexico. It ruled much of the region from the 1400s until the Spanish arrived in 1519.

Who were before the Aztecs?

Early History – The Aztecs

Mexico was first populated more than 13,000 years ago by complex indigenous civilisations. The great Aztec empire was preceded by advanced civilisations including the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec and Maya.