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Maya Civilization
- 1. By Pablo Cerda Maya civilization
- 2. Origin
- 3. Architecture
- 4. Religion
- 5. Language
Editor's Notes
- There is wide disagreement among historians concerning both the geographical origin and later geographical spread of the advanced Maya civilization. Hidden within the ancient oral mythology of the Maya can be found the answer to these questions. The ancient Chontal Maya revered a god-like ruler from Maya mythology called Kukulcan who brought the vestiges of civilization such as writing, mathematics, and architecture, to their ancestors. As such he was ostensibly considered by the seafaring Chontal Maya to be the father or founder of their high culture or civilization. The thrust of this study is to determine the origin of the myth and then trace its path and influence on the developing Maya civilization or culture.origin
- The Maya had advanced architecture for their time. Also there were large, but not too tall buildings. Here are some facts on these buildings. Maya pyramids were made of limestone. These hard-to-climb buildings had temples on top. Mayan V.I.P.s (like priests and rulers) were buried under these temples, basically right inside the pyramids. The first large pyramid built by the Mayans was made between 600 b.c. and 400 b.c. There were large but low buildings. These were homes to nobles and other important people. On the top of these structures were roof combs. Roof combs went from the high point of the roof. Roof combs made the building seem taller. Decorating these architectural wonders were murals in the inside of the structures, and carvings outside. Some of the carvings were called friezes. They also carved stone statues called stela. The stelae are records for historical events, including dates in heiroglyphics, and monuments honoring important people. They carved these scuptures without metal tools. They used stone tools instead.
- The Mayan religion also known as Maya, was born in Mesoamerica approximately 250 AD. This particular religion was influenced by the Olmecs. Within the first 650 years, the civilization of the Mayans ended up taking over 40 large cities which laid out across Mexico, North Belize and Guatemala. This period of their time was called the Classic Period. The total population of the Mayan peoples increased to be about 2 million people. As they lived a rural and agricultural life, the Mayans ended up covering most of Guatemala with their population. Their cities were kept mostly in regards to ceremonial practices, leaving them to build centers where they would have their ceremonies and give sacrifices to their gods. The Mayan peoples were so in touch with nature, that many of the Mayan Gods were known to have created our entire world from nature starting with one tree. This tree was said to be connected with the heavens and all of the underworlds as well. Not only were the Gods very important to the Mayan peoples, but they also felt as though there would not be life without these gods. During their time, the Mayans developed a calendar known as the Maya Calendar. This Calendar is said to be one of the most documented and best understood calendars of our time. With predictions made from this calendar, people looked forward to the future hoping that the calendar would prove itself right. These predictions came from the Mayan peoples themselves by studying the constellations in the night time sky. The Calendar is dated as far as the year 2012. From this point on, some people believe it could result in the end of the world. Others are still feeling skeptical about this impetuous prediction. These beautiful cities had been abandoned by the Mayans around 900 AD. It is said that the culture declined quite rapidly, making them leave their homes and sacred centers. Because of war, people believe that this is the cause for the abrupt leaving and declining of the Mayan peoples. Still in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico, lived many more Mayans. As farmers, they lived quite happily and content during this period, known as the Post-Classic Period. Unfortunately, the Spanish came into their territory and conquered the Mayans in the early 16th century. Any Mayans who were left, ended up being converted into Roman Catholicism. In today's society, The Mayan peoples are located mostly in the Southern Mexico region. Still to this day they practice their Mayan religion along with some Roman Catholicism. The Mayan culture is can be seen as a fascinating and beautiful culture that lived throughout history. If you are interested in The Mayan religion and would like to know more about their history, you can look it up online. Several sites are dedicated to giving knowledge about the Mayan religion. Whether you are a skeptic or a believer there truly is something to get from reading about the Mayans and how they lived.
- Classic Maya Language is historically the oldest form of the Maya language that is documented. There are inscriptions that are dated pre-Columbian that are documented historically as Classic Mayan language. The Maya Language as it is spoken today descends from Proto-Mayan language that was spoken, it is believed 5,000 years ago. Proto-Mayan is an ancestor root of three derived Mayan Language offshoots. They are Ch’olan, Yukatecan and Huastecan. The contemporaries of these languages that are spoken today are the Chol Language and Yukatek or Yukatec, which is Mayan. The speakers of these two Mayan forms of language can also understand many words in classic Maya language. language
- Numbers after 19 were written vertically up in powers of twenty. For example, thirty-three would be written as one dot above three dots, which are in turn atop two lines. The first dot represents "one twenty Upon reaching 400, another row is started. The number 429 would be written as one dot above one dot above four dots and a bar,