Mas

The Mayans were part of a historical Mesoamerican civilization that extended throughout the northern Central American region, now known as the countries of  Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, and southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco and the Yucatán peninsula.

In the period known to archaeologists as the mid-Preclassic (or mid-Formative, around 600 BC), some of the earliest Maya complexes were constructed. Archaeological evidence shows the Mayans started to build ceremonial architecture at approximately 1000 BC during the Classic period. There is some disagreement about the borders and difference between the early Maya and their neighboring Pre-Classic Mesoamerican civilization, the Olmec culture. The Olmecs and Mayans seem to have influenced each other.

For reasons still much debated, many of the early Mayan sites were abandoned in the Terminal phase (the so-called “Terminal collapse” period). During the succeeding Post-Classic period (to the early 16th century), development in the northern centers persisted. By the time of the Spanish arrival in 1519, most of these centers had substantively declined.

Contrary to popular opinion, Mayans did not disappear at the decline of the Classic period or with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores and subsequent colonization. Mayans persisted in contemporary Mesoamerican societies, maintaining their traditions and beliefs, although it was generally combined with more recent practices, such as Roman Catholicism.

Mayan descendants can be found in Guatemala, Honduras and Belize, and Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán, as well as Dos Pilas, Uaxactun, Altun Ha, Bonampak and many other sites. Many different Mayan languages are still spoken.

The Maya developed the well-known cities of Tikal, Palenque, Copán and Kalakmul. They developed an agriculturally intensive, city-centered empire.

The most notable monuments are the pyramids they built in their religious centers and palaces of their rulers. Other important archaeological remains include the carved stone slabs usually called stelae, which depict rulers, along with hieroglyphic texts describing their genealogy, war victories, and other accomplishments.

The Maya participated in long-distance trade, including salt, and obsidian, in Mesoamerica.

ART:  Many consider Maya art of the Classic Era (200 to 900 BC) to be the most sophisticated and beautiful of the ancient New World. The carvings and stucco work at Palenque and the statuary of Copán are among the cited examples.

ARCHITECTURE:  The Mayan architecture spans many thousands of years, but, often the most dramatic are the stepped pyramids. These pyramids relied on intricate carved stone to create a stair-step design. Each pyramid was dedicated to a deity whose shrine sat at its peak. During this “height” of Mayan culture, the centers of their religious, commercial and bureaucratic power grew into incredible cities, including Chichen Itza, Tikal, and Uxmal.

NOTABLE CONSTRUCTIONS

Ceremonial platforms:  These were commonly limestone platforms of typically less than four meters in height where public ceremonies and religious rites were performed.

Palaces:  Large and often highly decorated, the palaces usually sat close to the center of a city and housed the elite.

Pyramids and temples:  Often the most important religious temples sat atop the towering Mayan pyramids, presumably as the closest place to the heavens. Residing atop the pyramids, some of at more than 200 feet, such as El Mirador, the temples were impressive.  As occasionally the only structure to exceed the height of the jungle, the roof combs atop the temples were often carved with representations of rulers that could be seen from vast distances.

Observatories:  The Mayans were keen astronomers and had mapped out the phases of celestial objects, especially the moon and the planet, Venus. Many temples have doorways and other features aligning to celestial events. Round temples, often dedicated to Kukulcan god, are perhaps those most often described as “observatories” by modern ruin tour guides.

An integral aspect of the Mesoamerican lifestyle, the courts for Mayans ritual ball game were constructed often on a grand scale. Enclosed on two sides by stepped ramp that led to ceremonial platforms or small temples, the ball court itself was of a capital “I” shape and could be found in all but the smallest of Maya cities.

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Today’s Lesson:

1)  The Maya civilization was extended throughout the present-day countries of _________________________________

2)  The Mayans developed the cities of __________________________________

3)  Describe the stelae hieroglyphics. __________________________________

4)  Mayans used to trade goods, including ___________________

5)  Mayans mapped out the phases of celestial objects, especially  __________________

Answers:

  1)  Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, and southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco and Yucatán peninsula.     2)  Tikal, Palenque, Copán and Kalakmul, as well as Dos Pilas, Uaxactun, Altun Ha, Bonampak and many other sites.     3)  They describe Mayan genealogy, war victories, and other accomplishments.     4)  Salt and obsidian.     5)  Moon and Venus.