The Mayan Civilization Introduction

1. The Mayan CivilizationIntroduction Conquest of the Jungle

2. There never was a Mayan prophesy.

4. Classic Highland Maya and Lowland Maya thrived in southern Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.

5. Early pre-Maya and contemporary sites • San Jose Magote in Mexico’s southern highlands. 3500 years old. Lasting from before 1500 BC to 1150 BC. Not urban. • El Mirador. From 300 BC to 250 AD. Unique architecture, urban ceremonial center. • Monte Alban in Oaxaca. 500 BC to about 700 AD with decline to 1500 AD • Teotihuacán in Valley of Mexico 100 BC to 500 AD and decline to 1000 AD.

6. Mayan Chronology • Preclassic 500 BCE-300 CE • Contemporary with Olmec • Classic 300 CE -800 CE • Dominant in their region • Contemporary with Teotihuacan • Post-Classic 800 CE-1530 CE • Abandon the highlands • Post-conquest since 1530 • Under Spanish, then Mexican domination

7. El Mirador complex

8. El Mirador

9. Mayan Accomplishments • Mathematics • Astronomy • Engineering • Irrigation agriculture • Trade (long distance) • Architecture • Writing and sacred libraries • Chocolate

10. “El Castillo” at Chichen itza. Post classic phase. The sophistication of Mayan astronomy has led some to seek an extraterrestrial explanation.

11. During solstice.

12. El Caracol. The “observatory.”

13. Sacred cenote at Chichen itza.

14. Mayan Books • Reading Mayan glyphs: Pattern recognition insufficient for translation. • Sir Eric Thompson the leading Mayan epigrapher until his death in 1974.* • Insights made by Yuri ValentinovitchKnorosov in 1960’s of syllabic fusion of separate elements into one glyph.

16. The struggle Several theories about Mayan glyphs competed Was it pictographic; phonetic; syllabic; symbolic--non spoken; esoteric magic… Bitter rivalries and harsh words into the 1980’s. Sir Thompson shown to be almost fully incorrect in his analysis. Came to be convinced before he died. Current approach has unanimous support

17. The Mayan World Highlands and Lowlands Maize God figurine.

18. Economy based on agriculture (maize) and trade. • Spiritual world dominated all aspects of life. • Cosmology: a living landscape • Urban life integrated cosmology: architecture, ritual, food consumption all linked to beliefs.

19. The Ball Game • Ritual for the gods, cycle of life, fertility, death and sacrifice. Sacred. • Different rules in different places and through history. • Teams played with out using hands or feet. • Rubber ball weighed as much as 5 pounds. • Losers could be sacrificed. Sometimes winners too.

25. Ball court at El Tajin. The city has 11 courts.

26. Ball court (small version) at Monte Alban

27. Ball court rings. Chichen itza. This court is the size of two modern football fields.

28. Chichen itza. Yucatan. The “jaguar” temple. Near entry to ball court. Post Classic (after 800 AD)

30. Forensic analysis from burials of ball players reveal numerous injuries. Some died while playing the game. • Mostly fractures and head injuries. • Archaeological evidence demonstrates the game was violent: protective gear was required.

31. A brief look at the Diversity of Mayan city Centers. Architectural Identity

32. Artist reconstruction of Copan. Honduras.

33. Temple complex at Copan. Yucatan.

34. Uxmal. Mexico. The city is sacred, devoted to Venus. The so-called “Nunnery.”

35. Tikal. Guatemala.

37. Tikal

38. Coba Yucatan

39. Bonampak

40. Calakmul

43. Imagery Carvings and figurines

44. Image from a tzompantli carving (skull rack).

45. Kulkalcan

50. Lord Pacal: Ancient Astronaut? • Refer to Feder Chapter 9.