The Mayan The Mayan CivilizationCivilizationIntroductionIntroduction

Conquest of the JungleConquest of the Jungle

There never was a Mayan prophesy.

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

Early pre-Maya and contemporary sitesEarly pre-Maya and contemporary sites

►San Jose Magote in Mexico’s southern San Jose Magote in Mexico’s southern highlands. 3500 years old. Lasting from highlands. 3500 years old. Lasting from before 1500 BC to 1150 BC. Not urban.before 1500 BC to 1150 BC. Not urban.

►El Mirador. From 300 BC to 250 AD. El Mirador. From 300 BC to 250 AD. Unique architecture, urban ceremonial Unique architecture, urban ceremonial center.center.

► Monte Alban in Oaxaca. 500 BC to about Monte Alban in Oaxaca. 500 BC to about 700 AD with decline to 1500 AD700 AD with decline to 1500 AD

►Teotihuacán in Valley of Mexico 100 BC Teotihuacán in Valley of Mexico 100 BC to 500 AD and decline to 1000 AD.to 500 AD and decline to 1000 AD.

Mayan ChronologyMayan Chronology

►Preclassic 500 BCE-300 CEPreclassic 500 BCE-300 CE Contemporary with OlmecContemporary with Olmec

►Classic 300 CE -800 CEClassic 300 CE -800 CE Dominant in their regionDominant in their region

►Contemporary with Teotihuacan Contemporary with Teotihuacan

►Post-Classic 800 CE-1530 CEPost-Classic 800 CE-1530 CE Abandon the highlandsAbandon the highlands

►Post-conquest since 1530Post-conquest since 1530 Under Spanish, then Mexican dominationUnder Spanish, then Mexican domination

El Mirador complex

El Mirador

Mayan AccomplishmentsMayan Accomplishments

►MathematicsMathematics►AstronomyAstronomy►EngineeringEngineering► Irrigation agricultureIrrigation agriculture►Trade (long distance)Trade (long distance)►ArchitectureArchitecture►Writing and sacred librariesWriting and sacred libraries►ChocolateChocolate

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

During solstice.

El Caracol. The “observatory.”

Sacred cenote at Chichen itza.

Mayan BooksMayan Books

►Reading Mayan glyphs: Pattern Reading Mayan glyphs: Pattern recognition insufficient for translation.recognition insufficient for translation.

►Sir Eric Thompson the leading Mayan Sir Eric Thompson the leading Mayan epigrapher until his death in 1974.*epigrapher until his death in 1974.*

► Insights made by Yuri Valentinovitch Insights made by Yuri Valentinovitch Knorosov in 1960’s of syllabic fusion of Knorosov in 1960’s of syllabic fusion of separate elements into one glyph.separate elements into one glyph.

The struggleThe struggle

► Several theories about Mayan glyphs competed Several theories about Mayan glyphs competed Was it pictographic; phonetic; syllabic; Was it pictographic; phonetic; syllabic; symbolic--non spoken; esoteric magic…symbolic--non spoken; esoteric magic…

► Bitter rivalries and harsh words into the 1980’s.Bitter rivalries and harsh words into the 1980’s.► Sir Thompson shown to be almost fully Sir Thompson shown to be almost fully

incorrect in his analysis. Came to be convinced incorrect in his analysis. Came to be convinced before he died.before he died.

► Current approach has unanimous supportCurrent approach has unanimous support

The Mayan The Mayan WorldWorld

Highlands and Highlands and LowlandsLowlands

Maize God figurine.

► Economy based on Economy based on agriculture (maize) agriculture (maize) and trade.and trade.

► Spiritual world Spiritual world dominated all dominated all aspects of life.aspects of life.

► Cosmology: a living Cosmology: a living landscapelandscape

► Urban life Urban life integrated integrated cosmology: cosmology: architecture, ritual, architecture, ritual, food consumption food consumption all linked to beliefs.all linked to beliefs.

The Ball GameThe Ball Game

►Ritual for the gods, cycle of life, fertility, Ritual for the gods, cycle of life, fertility, death and sacrifice. Sacred.death and sacrifice. Sacred.

►Different rules in different places and Different rules in different places and through history.through history.

►Teams played with out using hands or Teams played with out using hands or feet.feet.

►Rubber ball weighed as much as 5 pounds.Rubber ball weighed as much as 5 pounds.►Losers could be sacrificed. Sometimes Losers could be sacrificed. Sometimes

winners too.winners too.

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

Ball court (small version) at Monte Alban

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

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

►Forensic analysis from burials of ball Forensic analysis from burials of ball players reveal numerous injuries. players reveal numerous injuries. Some died while playing the game.Some died while playing the game.

►Mostly fractures and head injuries.Mostly fractures and head injuries.►Archaeological evidence demonstrates Archaeological evidence demonstrates

the game was violent: protective gear the game was violent: protective gear was required.was required.

A brief look at the A brief look at the Diversity of Mayan Diversity of Mayan

city Centers.city Centers.

Architectural IdentityArchitectural Identity

Artist reconstruction of Copan. Honduras.

Temple complex at Copan. Yucatan.

Uxmal. Mexico. The city is sacred, devoted to Venus.

The so-called “Nunnery.”

Tikal. Guatemala.

Tikal

Coba Yucatan

Bonampak

Calakmul

ImageryImagery

Carvings and figurinesCarvings and figurines

Image from a tzompantli carving (skull rack).

Kulkalcan

►Lord Pacal: Ancient Astronaut? Lord Pacal: Ancient Astronaut?

►Refer to Feder Chapter 9.Refer to Feder Chapter 9.

Mosaic Puuc style architectural façade.

Chichen itza.

Yucatan, Mexico

Choc mool. Toltec derived sacrificial altar.

Late post classic Maya were significantly influenced by Toltec and Aztec culture—including increase focus on sacrificial rituals.

Maya people todayMaya people today

► Throughout Mexico, Throughout Mexico, Guatemala, HondurasGuatemala, Honduras

► Discriminated minority.Discriminated minority.► Mostly poor and rural.Mostly poor and rural.► Maintain some Maintain some

language and a few language and a few cultural arts and cultural arts and traditions.traditions.

► Mostly Catholic, but Mostly Catholic, but practice blended faith.practice blended faith.

AnalysisAnalysis

►Reading a page from one of the only Reading a page from one of the only surviving Mayan books.surviving Mayan books.

►Page from the Dresden CodexPage from the Dresden Codex Pattern recognitionPattern recognition

►CluesClues►spacesspaces

What does it mean?What does it mean?

►We need to We need to calculate the values calculate the values shown.shown.

►Which way do the Which way do the numbers go and numbers go and how do they group?how do they group?

► Experimentation is Experimentation is the only way to the only way to solve this.solve this.

PatternsPatterns

► Look for groupingsLook for groupings►Note: the Maya Note: the Maya

counted in base 20counted in base 20► Read the numbersRead the numbers► Place value system Place value system

as in our familiar as in our familiar base 10, but …base 10, but …

► Instead of 1’s, 10’s, Instead of 1’s, 10’s, 100’s (10x10) the 100’s (10x10) the Maya counted in the Maya counted in the 20’s, 400’s (20x20) 20’s, 400’s (20x20) and so on.and so on.

► They get some They get some really big numbers.really big numbers.

Palenque. Mexico