7.2 Maya city-states, writing, and calendars

The Maya civilization, a cornerstone of ancient Mesoamerican culture, developed intricate city-states with complex political structures. These city-states engaged in trade, warfare, and monumental architecture, reflecting their sophisticated society and divine kingship.

Maya achievements in writing and calendars were groundbreaking. Their hieroglyphic script recorded history and mythology, while their precise calendar systems, based on astronomical observations, played a crucial role in religious and political life.

Maya City-States

Political Structure and Organization

• Maya civilization organized into independent city-states, each with its own ruling dynasty and distinct cultural identity
• City-states centered around a main urban center with monumental architecture (palaces, temples, ball courts)
• Ruling elite consisted of kings (k'uhul ajaw) who claimed divine right to rule
  • Legitimized power through ritual performances and public displays
• Maya society was hierarchical
  • Nobles, craftsmen, merchants, and commoners had distinct roles and responsibilities
• City-states engaged in complex trade networks
  • Exchanged goods such as obsidian, jade, cacao, and textiles
• Warfare between city-states was common
  • Victorious kings took captives for sacrifice and tribute

Trade and Warfare

• City-states engaged in extensive trade within the Maya region and with other Mesoamerican cultures
  • Traded goods included obsidian, jade, cacao, textiles, salt, and feathers
• Trade routes facilitated the exchange of ideas, cultural practices, and technological innovations
• Warfare was a central aspect of Maya political life
  • City-states competed for resources, tribute, and political dominance
  • Captives taken in battle were often sacrificed to the gods or used as labor
• Successful warfare allowed kings to expand their territory, gain prestige, and legitimize their rule
  • Victories were commemorated through monuments and inscriptions

Maya Writing System

Development and Characteristics

• Maya developed a sophisticated writing system combining phonetic and logographic elements
• Writing system consisted of glyphs, representing syllables or whole words
  • Allowed for the recording of complex ideas and historical events
• Scribes, members of the elite class, were trained in the art of writing
  • Responsible for creating and maintaining written records
• Maya writing used to record important events (royal accessions, marriages, military conquests)
  • Also used to record astronomical observations and calendar dates
• Writing used in religious contexts (temple walls, altars)
  • Communicated with gods and recorded mythological stories

Significance and Decipherment

• Maya writing provided a wealth of information about their history, politics, and culture
• Decipherment of Maya writing in the 20th century greatly expanded our understanding of the civilization
  • Key figures in the decipherment process included Yuri Knorozov, Tatiana Proskouriakoff, and David Stuart
• Deciphered texts have revealed details about dynastic histories, political alliances, and religious beliefs
• The ability to read Maya writing has allowed for a more nuanced understanding of their society
  • Challenged earlier assumptions and revealed the complexity of Maya civilization

Maya Calendar Systems

Tzolk'in, Haab', and Long Count

• Maya developed a complex and precise calendar system based on astronomical observations and mathematical calculations
• Three interrelated calendar systems: Tzolk'in, Haab', and Long Count
  • Tzolk'in: 260-day sacred calendar
  • Haab': 365-day solar calendar
  • Long Count: linear calendar counting days from a mythical starting point
• Tzolk'in and Haab' calendars worked in conjunction
  • Specific combination of dates repeated every 52 years (Calendar Round)
• Long Count calendar allowed for recording historical events with great precision
  • Used a vigesimal (base-20) numbering system

Astronomical Knowledge and Religious Significance

• Maya astronomers accurately predicted astronomical events (solar eclipses, planetary movements)
  • Used their calendar system for these predictions
• Calendar played a crucial role in Maya religious and political life
  • Certain dates considered more auspicious for important events (coronations, battles, agricultural cycles)
• Calendar dates inscribed on monuments, stelae, and other objects
  • Demonstrated the importance of time and its relationship to religious and political authority
• The Maya believed in cyclical time and the importance of maintaining cosmic order
  • Calendar rituals and ceremonies were essential for ensuring the continuation of the world

Rise and Decline of Maya Civilization

Factors Contributing to the Rise

• Combination of factors facilitated the rise of Maya civilization
  • Favorable environmental conditions, agricultural intensification, development of complex trade networks
• Maya developed sophisticated agricultural techniques (raised fields, terracing)
  • Allowed them to support large urban populations
• Growth of trade networks within the Maya region and with other Mesoamerican cultures
  • Contributed to the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices
• Centralization of political power and the emergence of divine kingship
  • Allowed for the mobilization of labor and resources for monumental construction projects

Factors Contributing to the Decline

• Decline of Maya civilization in the Terminal Classic period (c. 800-900 CE) likely caused by multiple factors
  • Overpopulation, environmental degradation, climate change, increased warfare between city-states
• Collapse of Maya civilization was not uniform
  • Some regions experienced a more gradual decline, while others saw rapid abandonment of cities
• Possible factors include prolonged droughts, soil exhaustion, and the breakdown of trade networks
  • May have led to social and political instability, as well as increased competition for resources
• Increased warfare and the capture of kings may have disrupted the political and religious order
  • Led to a loss of faith in the divine right of kings and the collapse of the classic Maya political system

Legacy and Continuity

• Despite the decline of the Classic Maya civilization, many elements of Maya culture continued to influence later Mesoamerican societies
  • Calendar system, religious practices, art styles, and architectural traditions
• Maya people and their descendants continue to live in the region today
  • Maintain many aspects of their cultural heritage, including language, religion, and agricultural practices
• The study of the ancient Maya continues to be an active area of research
  • New discoveries and interpretations continue to shape our understanding of this complex civilization