MAYA Civilization

In this article, we are going to discuss about Maya Civilization. Why? Because of its infamous calendar, which predicted the world is going to end on 21 June 2021. Earlier also, a date was predicted that was 21 December 2012, exactly 8 years before.

Who were the Maya ?

Let us start the journey!

Maya was the most influential & advanced civilization in Mesoamerica, present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras, and northern El Salvador. They built 60 cities. They were very clever and invented many things including their own calendars, mathematics, writing systems, farming methods, sports & religion.. They built many architectures as palaces, pyramids, ceremonial structures and temple observatories It’s impressive because they did not have any metal tools. Also, Mayans invented the concept of zero which was later numbered in India. Their calendar was made to last for 5000 years.

Maya Civ. Map

Early Maya

From around 40,000 to 20,000 BCE, people crossed over the land bridge between modern-day Alaska & Siberia into North America, they moved south in search of a warm climate, better hunting grounds, and more bountiful plant life. They settled in modern-day Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

The Mayan Highlands, Lowlands, and coastal areas were plentiful in natural & mineral resources such as obsidian, jade, and fish. Agriculture took root around 6000 BCE adding to a massive food surplus, which led to population growth, and their culture blossomed.

Pre-classic period – 1800BCE to 250 CE

Tribal villages evolved into tribal chieftains and then into the early Mayan states such as El Mirador, this began in 1700 BCE when pottery developed which made the trade much easier. Due to the regional trade, they got in contact with other societies including the Olmec, the Mayans then adopted the aspects of Olmec’s society including their gods, urbanism, rituals, hierarchical structure, and developed astronomy, calendrical systems, and hieroglyphic writings.

The “La Danta” pyramid was the largest pyramid (236 ft.) in early Mayan civ. Built in the lost city of Mirador. Warfare, volcanic eruptions, overpopulation, and over-use of the soil are believed to have led to the decline of early Maya civilizations around 250CE. 

Classic Period 250 – 900 CE

It’s is also called as Golden Age. Due to the fall of El Mirador, the population moved to the lowlands and that is when there was great cultural and intellectual growth happened mostly in astronomy and the development of the famous Mayan calendar. Major cities collapsed due to near-constant warfare and ecological factors, cities were abandoned reverting to small villages and ending the Mayan Golden Age.

The population moved to northern Yucatan, gradually built new cities. This was a power shift to the Chichen Itza, in the Yucatan peninsula after the golden age, pre-classic cities took power and maritime trade became more prominent and reliable. Chichen-Itza became the center of the trade network and simultaneously the ruling hierarchy eroded and society became more democratic. But, again population exceeded and it could sustain. Drought, soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, and deforestation led to malnutrition, starvation, and disease. This was the end of the Classic era hence known as the Terminal classic age.

Mayan Calendar

Post Classic Period 900 – 1530 CE

Chichen –Itza dominance decreased gradually due to warfare with other rival cities such as Uxmal & Mayapan and led to a decline in Mayan influence. Hence, Aztecs to the north became more influential.

Now the Spanish conquistadors arrived, seeing this, the leader of the Aztecs tried to convince all Maya to unite against the Spanish, even after uniting, they failed and by 1530 Highlands and Pacific coast Mayans were conquered by the Spanish. Yet, the Yucatan Mayans still fought bravely with the Spanish from 1527 – 1530 and defeated them in 1535, but the reinforcements kept arriving from Spain and Mayans couldn’t hold it much longer and by 1546 Spanish conquered all Mayans territory.

90% of the Mayan population died from European diseases, war and slavery and by 1697, the civilization fell, finally lost to history.

Mayan Society

Religion was prevalent in Mayan life affecting everything from trade to agriculture, the ruler was the chief priest who would make sacrifices and perform rituals to appease the gods. Human blood was the most potent offering, however, human sacrifices were only reserved for special occasions such as coronations, or when a new temple was blessed. These sacrifices often took place in challenging times such as disease outbreaks and famines. Religion was polytheistic, there were 250 names for Mayan deities most important was the Mayan god “Itzamna”, the supreme deity.

Mayan Government

The Mayans never formed a united polity; there was never a Maya empire but rather dozens of unique and competing city-states united by a common culture, language family, and reliance on maize. In Chichen-Itza, multiple join family was the ruler in post classic era. Monarchs were the ultimate rulers.  

Mayan Warfare

It was the constant way of life for the Mayans. Mayan kings were fierce war captains. Only the elite could be officers soldiers were always the commoners or middle class. The common weapon used by Mayans was “Atlatl” or Spear, axes, and clubs, all were bladed with obsidian, which is a volcanic glass material.

Mayan Weapons

They always fought out of formation due to jungle terrain, the order of battle involved, an initial volley of spears & arrows followed by hand-to-hand combat. They engaged in warfare for expansion, control trade routes, and acquire prisoners for sacrifices to the gods.

At the End

The Spanish invasion did not eradicate the Mayans as is commonly believed. The remaining 10% of Maya were gathered up and put in Spanish settlements and were expected to convert to Catholicism. Aspects of Mayan culture survived and were mixed with Catholic practices. Mayans survived to this day but lost all their land and lifestyle. Mayan areas are now world-famous tourist destinations ensuring the survival of Mayan culture providing a means of earning a living for many Mayans.

Mayan history can be characterized as cycles of rise and fall. The complex and intricate Mayan history stands to this day as a testament to one of the greatest Central American civilizations ever exist.

References-

• www.historymuseum.ca
• www.history.com
• www.captivatinghistory.com
• Pic credits- www.crystalinks.com