Maya civilization
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Maya civilization Mesoamerican civilization of Central America
The Maya civilization is a historical Mesoamerican civilization,
which extended throughout the northern Central American region which
includes the present-day nations of Guatemala, Belize, western
Honduras and El Salvador, as well as the southern Mexican states of
Chiapas, Tabasco, and the Yucatán Peninsula states of Quintana Roo,
Campeche and Yucatán.
Within this region, elements associated with the Maya civilization
have been found which date back to approximately 1000 BC. The region
had however been inhabited since at least the 10th millennium BC,
and the point at which distinctive Maya-like characteristics first
arose is not well-defined. By the period known to archaeologists as
the mid-Preclassic (or mid-Formative, around 600 BC), some of the
earliest Maya complexes had been constructed. |
The later Classic period (c. 250 - 900) witnessed the peak of
widespread urban center construction and the recording of monumental
inscriptions, particularly in the southern lowland regions. For
reasons which are still much debated, many of these sites were
abandoned in the Terminal phase of this period (the so-called
"Terminal collapse"), although in several places these activities
continued, particularly in northern Yucatán. Detailed monumental
inscriptions all but disappeared. During the succeeding Post-Classic
period (to the early 16th century), development in the northern
centers persisted, characterized by an increasing diversity of
external influences; however by the time of the Spanish arrival in
1519 most of these centers had substantively declined.
The Maya civilization shared many features with other Mesoamerican
civilizations, for there was a high degree of interaction and
cultural diffusion throughout the region. Although aspects such as
writing and the calendar did not originate with the Maya, their
civilization developed these to their fullest extent. Maya
influences can be detected as far afield as central Mexico, more
than 1000 km from their homelands. Equally, many external influences
are to be found in Maya art and architecture, particularly in the
Post-Classic period; these are thought to be mainly a result of
trade and cultural exchange, rather than direct external conquest.
Contrary to popular perception, the various Maya peoples themselves
had not "disappeared", neither at the time of the Classic period
decline nor with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores and the
subsequent colonization of their lands. The Maya persist in
contemporary Mesoamerican societies, maintaining a distinctive set
of traditions and beliefs, albeit generally combined with more
recent practices such as widespread adoption of Roman Catholicism.
The Maya and their descendants form sizeable populations throughout
the region formerly occupied by the states of the ancient
civilization. Many different Mayan languages are still spoken as
their primary language.
Archaeological evidence shows the Maya had started to build
ceremonial architecture by approximately 1000 BC. There is some
disagreement about the boundaries which differentiate the physical
and cultural extent of the early Maya and their neighboring
Pre-Classic Mesoamerican civilizations, such as the Olmec culture of
the Tabasco lowlands and the Mixe-Zoque– and Zapotec–speaking
peoples of Chiapas and southern Oaxaca. Many of the earliest
significant inscriptions and buildings appeared in this overlapping
zone, and evidence suggests that these cultures and the formative
Maya influenced one other.
The earliest monuments consist of simple burial mounds, the
precursors to pyramids erected in later times.
Eventually, the Olmec culture faded after spreading its influence
into the Yucatan peninsula, present-day Guatemala, and other
regions.
The Maya developed the famed cities of Tikal, Palenque, Copán and
Kalakmul, as well as Dos Pilas, Uaxactun, Altun Ha, Bonampak and
many other sites in the area. They developed an agriculturally
intensive, city-centered empire consisting of numerous independent
city-states. The most notable monuments are the pyramids they built
in their religious centers and the accompanying palaces of their
rulers. Other important archaeological remains include the carved
stone slabs usually called stelae (the Maya called them Tetun, or
"Tree-stones"), which depict rulers along with hieroglyphic texts
describing their genealogy, war victories, and other
accomplishments.
The Maya participated in long distance trade in Mesoamerica and
possibly further lands. Important trade goods included cacao, salt,
and obsidian; see also: Obsidian use in Mesoamerica. |
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