You are on page 1of 5

Instituto Tecnolgico de Oaxaca Ingles nivel 4 Horario: 2:00-3:00 pm Arreaga Garca Juan Carlos

CULTURE MAYA

The first concrete traces of the Mayan civilization date back to the Preclassic period around 1,800 BC in the Mirador Basin in Petn, northern Guatemala, though some settlements are thought to be over 6,000 years old (Coe, 2005). Signs of chiefdom political organization emerged during the Middle Preclassic era (ca. 1,000400 BC), leading to the birth of a ruling elite and the development of city-state governing systems in the Late Preclassic (ca. 400 BC100 AD), leading to rivalry and wars among them. (Sharer and Tucker, 2006).

The Mayans were the only ancient American civilization with a recorded history of their own, the Mayans broadcast on stone billboards (stelas), the loudest messages of all Mesoamerican cultures. They recorded on lithic monuments, pottery, papers, and skins, the grand events of their abstruse culture. Though their hieroglyphs remain to be totally deciphered, we may soon have the benefit of viewing an advanced civilization built upon "primary technology" taken to the fullest understanding of nature's provisions. In other words the Mayans went about as far as they could go within a category of earth and stone technology. Their knowledge of the Primary Technology (Nature) surely surpasses ours. The Maya flourished thanks to a deep understanding of their geographic setting, and surprising adaptations to the environmental conditions that surrounded them. They conceived the world as a quadrangular space that was ordered and measured at the time of creation. The gods created the face of the earth, u wach law, as a propitious place for human life. In the words of the Popol Vuh:

"All then was measured and staked out into four divisions, doubling over and stretching the measuring cords of the womb of sky and the womb of earth. Thus were established the four corners, the four sides"

The ancient Maya culture was the more advanced in the American continent, moreover, the World of the Maya has many faces: some of them ancient, as found carved on Sculptures, paintings and towering temples, others as modern as those of the people who live in Guatemala today. They are the descendants of the ancient Maya people. Guatemala is a showcase of natural history and dramatic Landscapes, with 37 volcanoes, beautiful lakes, Tropical rain forest, dense pine forest, and more, but its greatest asset is the rich and colorful traditions of the various ethnic communities, 23 in total. Each group has its own language, its special folklore, yet they share a common ancestral heritage as expressed in religion, music, dance, a Theater play The Rabinal Achi foods and even social organization. Maya influences can be found in both the performing and design arts. The handcraft of textiles, in particular, is wonderfully colored, and part of the everyday dress, a big difference with its neighboring countries.

The Maize God being dressed by ladies, then paddled in a canoe (Vase in Popol Vuh Museum, Guatemala) Most archaeologists agree that ancient Guatemala was the cultural and commerce center of the Americas, and that the Mayan civilization, is the jewel of all ancient American cultures, and one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known. Once centered in what is now Guatemala, extending through-out the nation and into neighboring Chiapas, Yucatn, Campeche, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras a region known as Mesoamrica. The investigations in La Blanca, El Mesak, Ujuxte, Monte Alto, Balberta and others in the Pacific Lowlands, the very early sites of Naranjo and Kaminal Juy in the Highlands and several more in The Mirador Basin, located in the Petn Lowlands, could produce information about the development of social stratification, the emergence of an elite, and the process of urbanization in an area which is critical for understanding the emergence of civilization in Mesoamerica. The improvement in the food supply led to an increase in population, a higher standard of living and more time to experiment with agricultural techniques and artistic niceties. Decorative pots and healthier, fatter corn strains were produced. Even at the beginning of the Pre Classic period, people in Guatemala spoke an early form of the Mayan language or Proto-Maya. Some archeologist think that the Olmec also spoke a ProtoMaya language. According to Thompson (1960:8), Maya civilization was based primarily on maize, and subsequent investigations have reiterated not only the important role of maize in Maya subsistence, although not the "staple food", as thought before, but also the sophisticated intensive agricultural techniques practiced in the Maya region as early as

800 B.C. such as the irrigation canals and Damn systems in The Mirador Basin and Rio Azul. (Matheny 1978). Maize also carried enormous cosmological significance for the Maya. Humans were created from maize by the gods, who wished to be honored and sustained by their creations (Tedlock 1985:77-80), acts that were accomplished by ritual bloodletting.

The Mayan Culture developed between 3000 and 2000 BC. A pollen sample has shown the establishments of agriculture in Guatemala by 4000 BC, and around 2500 BC initiated the building of small cities with some permanent architecture all over the country (Pre-Classic). According to Houston the Cho'lan language, the precursor to the Maya, originated in the Guatemalan Highlands, ca 3000 BC. In the tropical lowlands of El Mirador Basin, in thePetn Lowlands, Northern Guatemala, that lead to huge cities like Mirador, Nakb, San Bartolo, Tintal and others, although there were some early cities in the Guatemala Highlands (Naranjo, Kaminal Juy, Nebaj, Guaytn, El Portn), and in the Pacific Low Lands (Takalik Abaj, Chocol), that does not reach the size of those in Petn where they build at least 27 big cities and countless smaller ones at its peak around 250 BC, then, suffered a first collapse around 150 AD, and resurging on 250 AD (Early Classic) with large cities such as Tikal, Naranjo, Yaxh, Cancun, Machaquil, Ceibal,Piedras Negras, Quirigu, Uaxactn, and many more until their final collapse around 900 A.D. (Terminal-Classic). By the time of the Arrival of the Spanish conquistadores in the 16th century, the so called Mayan culture, found in the Yucatn peninsula, was more a mix of Toltec and Aztec influences whom took their Classic Maya Cosmovision, Calendar, Mathematics and even Religion and Medicine practices with reminiscences of the Classic Maya Civilization, than the Original Maya Culture, which had already faded 6 centuries before, with many of its great cities and monuments deserted and engulfed by the Rain Forest. Decline and eventual "Collapse" of the Mayan civilization has been attributed to inveracities wars, famine, natural calamity, disruption of trade routes, popular unrests and more, but the real reason is still a mystery. Surely it was a mix of all those theories, but the constant need for cal (stucco) to cover the big Temples, most certainly produced a complete deforestation in a land not suited for agricultural use, but for Forestry, due to its very little humus contain. To cover just one Temple with stucco, The Mayas had to cut 400 Ha. of forest, because only green wood reaches enough temperature to form it, and there were hundreds of big structures in their cities.

According to the text responds correctly the following questions? 1. Where they found the first traces of the Mayan civilization? 2. During what time is found the first traces of the Mayan civilization? 3. What were the reasons why the Mayan civilization flourished? 4. Which was the country, used for trade in ancient America? 5. Which were the places where the Maya lived? 6. With another name are referred to these places? 7. Which was the result of improved food supplies in the Mayan culture? 8. Which was the main food in Mayan culture? 9. According to the Maya, which was the food of humans arise? 10. which was the language of the Maya?

Answers with "T" for true prayer and "F" if false 1) The Mayan culture developed between 3000 and 2000 BC 2) The Maya used for the elaboration few trees stucco 3) Famine was also a reason for the decline maya 4) influenced stucco for the decrease in deforestation in the Maya area 5) the Maya had to cut 800 hectares of forests 6) According to Houston Cholan language, the precursor Mayans, originated in the highlands of Guatemala, ca 3000 BC 7) Mayan culture was the most important of Mesoamerica 8) he Maya wrote his story in stones called stelae 9) The Mayan decline is attributed to the constant wars 10) After the arrival of the Spanish, Mayan culture was a mixture of Aztec and Toltec Correctly relates the following statements 1) Mayan culture was mixed with other cultures 2) result of improved food supply 3) was the most important culture of Mesoamerica 4) is known as the bible maya 5) decay factors in Mayan culture 6) the mayas cut 400 hectares of forests for the production of this glue 7) country of birth was the Mayan culture 8) main language of the Maya 9) was the main food of civilization A B C D F G H I J Guatemala Stucco Protomaya Aztecas And Olmecas Corn Popol Vuh Famine, Wars And Deforestation Population increase Culture Maya

You might also like