Maya

Definition

The Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican culture that flourished in present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador from around 2000 BC to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. Known for their remarkable achievements in writing, astronomy, mathematics, and architecture, the Maya developed a complex society with city-states that featured monumental structures and advanced agricultural practices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Maya civilization is known for its sophisticated writing system, called hieroglyphs, which was one of the few fully developed writing systems in pre-Columbian Americas.
2. Maya society was organized into city-states, each ruled by a king or queen who held both political and religious authority.
3. The Maya made significant advances in mathematics, including the concept of zero, which allowed them to create intricate calendar systems.
4. The famous step pyramids of Tikal and Chichen Itza are prime examples of Maya architectural prowess, featuring impressive designs and astronomical alignments.
5. Despite their achievements, the Maya civilization experienced a gradual decline beginning around the 9th century AD, likely due to factors such as drought, warfare, and societal changes.

Review Questions

• How did the social and political structure of the Maya civilization influence its development?
  • The social structure of the Maya civilization was hierarchical, with a ruling elite that included kings and nobles at the top. This structure allowed for centralized decision-making and control over resources. The political organization into city-states enabled the Maya to establish trade networks and alliances while also competing with one another for power. This competition often led to warfare, which influenced both their societal development and interactions with neighboring groups.
• Analyze the contributions of the Maya to mathematics and astronomy, and how these fields influenced their daily life.
  • The Maya made significant contributions to mathematics by developing a vigesimal (base-20) counting system that included the concept of zero. This innovation allowed them to create complex calendar systems that were crucial for agricultural planning and religious ceremonies. In astronomy, they meticulously observed celestial bodies and calculated cycles such as solar years and lunar months. Their understanding of these fields was deeply integrated into their daily life, guiding agricultural activities and ritual events.
• Evaluate the reasons for the decline of the Maya civilization in the late classical period and its broader implications for Mesoamerica.
  • The decline of the Maya civilization around the 9th century AD can be attributed to several interrelated factors, including prolonged droughts that affected agricultural productivity, increased warfare among city-states, and societal changes such as population pressures. This decline not only led to the abandonment of major urban centers but also contributed to shifts in Mesoamerican cultural dynamics. The weakening of the Maya civilization opened opportunities for other groups to rise in prominence in Mesoamerica, thus reshaping the region's political landscape leading up to European contact.

Related terms

Mesoamerica: A region that includes southern Mexico and parts of Central America, characterized by indigenous cultures that developed complex societies before European contact.

Quetzalcoatl: A feathered serpent deity worshipped by various Mesoamerican cultures, including the Maya, representing wind and knowledge.

Cenote: A natural sinkhole or well found in limestone, often considered sacred by the Maya and used for water supply and religious rituals.