The Maya stood out as one of the most important and influential civilizations on the American continent. They emerged around 2600 BC and developed over a vast area that includes southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador.
Over the years, The Mayans developed impressive achievements in various areas, such as architecture, astronomy, mathematics and writing.Today, its legacy is visible through the majestic remains of cities such as Chichén Itzá and Tikal.
Where were the Mayans located?
The Mayans inhabited a vast region in Mesoamerica which stretched from southern Mexico (particularly the Yucatan Peninsula and the states of Chiapas and Tabasco) to Guatemala, Belize and some territories in northern Honduras and El Salvador. This area was made up of both highland and lowland areas, with different climatic characteristics that influenced their lifestyle.
The geographical location can be divided into three large areas:
- Highlands: Located mainly in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, they were mountainous areas with volcanic activity.
- Petén Lowlands: In Belize, southern Yucatan and Guatemala. Characterized by dense jungles and forests.
- Northern lowlands: In the north of Yucatan, a more arid area with few visible bodies of water.
History of the Mayans
The history of the Mayan civilization is organized into several important periods that show how the culture experienced moments of boom, crisis and resurgence over the centuries:
- Archaic Period (8000-2000 BC): This stage precedes the emergence of the first cities. During this period, the Maya developed sedentary lifestyles based on agriculture, especially the cultivation of corn.
- Preclassic Period (2000 BC–250 AD): During this phase, the first settlements began to consolidate and vestiges of important cities such as Nakbé and Kaminaljuyú were found. Large-scale agriculture was practiced, and cities began to grow in size. At the end of this period, significant monuments were built, and glyphic writing came into use.
- Classic Period (250-950 AD): During the Classic Period, the Maya lived their greatest splendor. Great cities such as Tikal, Palenque and Copán were built. This period witnessed a remarkable development in architecture, astronomy and writing. It was also a phase of constant wars between different city-states. Alliances and enmities played a vital role in their politics.
- Postclassic Period (950-1539 AD): Despite the collapse of cities in the south, others in the north, such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, rose to great prominence. However, the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century marked the end of this period and of Mayan civilization as it was known.
- Contact period: From 1511 to 1697, the Maya interacted with the Spanish. After years of resistance, the last independent cities, such as Tayasal, fell into the hands of the conquistadors.
Advances in astronomy and mathematics
One of the most amazing features of the Mayan civilization was their deep knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. They created extremely precise calendars, such as the well-known Long Count Calendar, which allowed them to accurately calculate dates and astronomical alignments.
The Mayans were also one of the first civilizations to use the concept of 'zero', a fundamental advance that would be key to the development of mathematics. The combination of this knowledge allowed them to predict astronomical phenomena, such as eclipses and solstices.
Social and political structures
Maya civilization was not unified under a single centralized government. Instead, it was organized into independent city-states, each with its own ruling elite, consisting of kings and nobles. In Maya society, the chief ruler of a city was known as halach uinic, who had both civil and religious powers.
Furthermore, Priests played a central role in society, since they were in charge of carrying out rituals and sacrifices to appease the gods. In turn, the commoners, artisans and peasants maintained the economic structure by dedicating themselves to agriculture, construction and crafts.
Religion and Worldview
Mayan religion was deeply polytheistic, and believed that the universe was composed of three distinct forces: heaven, earth, and the underworld. These three dimensions were interconnected, and the Maya believed that their gods directly influenced natural events and daily life.
Itzamná He was the main god, creator of everything, while other important gods such as Kukulkan (the feathered serpent) and chack (god of rain) also played key roles in their mythology. Offerings and sacrifices were essential to ask for good harvests, favors from the gods, and protection from natural disasters.
Glyphic writing and the recording of history
The Mayans developed a complex and symbol-rich writing system known as glyphic writing. Mayan hieroglyphics were used to record both historical events and religious information on stelae, temples, and codices.Although many of these records were destroyed during the Spanish conquest, some codices survived and provide valuable information about their rituals and beliefs.
Cultural heritage
Still today, The architectural and cultural legacy of the Mayans is impressiveMonuments such as the Temple of the Great Jaguar at Tikal, the observatory at Chichén Itzá and the stelae at Copán demonstrate the skill of the Maya in construction, engineering and art.
Additionally, many of the traditions, festivities and beliefs of modern descendants of the Maya are still practiced in regions of Guatemala and Mexico, keeping alive a culture rich in history and symbolism.
The impact of the Maya on astronomy, mathematics and architecture remains one of the most impressive examples of what a pre-Columbian civilization achieved, overcoming geographical and environmental obstacles to build one of the most fascinating cultures in history.