Maya Master Builders
Essential Themes
Culture: How do we know what we know about human history?
Culture: How do we know what we know about human history?
If you think of the Maya, you might picture elaborately dressed and decorated priests and kings climbing the long, steep steps of one of their monumental pyramids. While it’s easy to imagine the Maya at the height of their civilization, much mystery remains about both the civilization’s collapse and their origins. In this lesson, you will learn about Maya beginnings and about how they built the most advanced and long-lived civilization in the Americas.
At least 13,000 years ago, tribes of hunter-gatherers roamed Mesoamerica. By about 8000 BCE, these early people had begun to experiment with agriculture, growing, first squash and later maize, or corn. Out of this progress grew the region’s first permanent settlements. At least some of these settlements later grew to become Mesoamerica’s first cities.
Traditionally, Maya development is grouped into three distinct eras. Those eras include the Pre-Classic period, the Classic period, and the Post-Classic period. Though descendants of the Maya continue to live throughout Mesoamerica, the period of Spanish conquest, or Spanish colonial period, marked the end of the Maya era.
Traditionally, Maya development is grouped into three distinct eras. Those eras include the Pre-Classic period, the Classic period, and the Post-Classic period. Though descendants of the Maya continue to live throughout Mesoamerica, the period of Spanish conquest, or Spanish colonial period, marked the end of the Maya era.
THE PRE-CLASSIC PERIOD
The Pre-Classic period lasted from roughly 1800 BCE-250 CE. That’s a long time, of course, and in those two thousand years all sorts of changes took place in Mesoamerica. It was during the Pre-Classic period that seasonal settlements first became permanent settlements and then villages. From those villages arose the first cities in Mesoamerica.
During this time, the Olmec in Mexico were the dominant civilization. The Olmec may be best known for their enormous carved heads, weighing up to 20 tons each and standing 9 feet tall. Like the Maya, the origins and disappearance of the Olmec remains shrouded in mystery. Because they left behind little writing, archaeologists continue to work at unraveling the Olmec mystery by examining the artifacts found in cities such as La Venta and San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán.
The Pre-Classic period lasted from roughly 1800 BCE-250 CE. That’s a long time, of course, and in those two thousand years all sorts of changes took place in Mesoamerica. It was during the Pre-Classic period that seasonal settlements first became permanent settlements and then villages. From those villages arose the first cities in Mesoamerica.
During this time, the Olmec in Mexico were the dominant civilization. The Olmec may be best known for their enormous carved heads, weighing up to 20 tons each and standing 9 feet tall. Like the Maya, the origins and disappearance of the Olmec remains shrouded in mystery. Because they left behind little writing, archaeologists continue to work at unraveling the Olmec mystery by examining the artifacts found in cities such as La Venta and San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán.
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In fact, even their name, Olmec, is an Aztec word for them. It means “the rubber people.” Rubber was something that the Olmec harvested and traded. One of the things they did with the harvested rubber was coat their clothing, effectively making them waterproof. They also made the solid rubber balls that they used in their ball games.
Until recently, it was believed that the Maya borrowed everything from the Olmec, from the design of their art and architecture to their ball game and their long calendar. Current research, however, shows that the two tribes had a more complex relationship and likely influenced one another’s development by way of trade between the two civilizations. |
Certainly, by the time the Olmec were at their peak, cities were also beginning to appear in the area of Mesoamerica occupied by the Maya. There is evidence that by 600 BCE the Maya were already building carefully planned cities using a grid system. Cities such as Nixtun-Ch'ich, in Peten, Guatemala, had a central plaza, pyramids, temples and other structures. It flourished between 600 and 300 BCE.
The first of the Maya’s truly great cities, El Mirador, also dates from this period. At its peak, El Mirador was home to over 100,000 people. The central center of the city had over a thousand buildings and covered ten square miles. Archaeologists have found three large temple pyramids ranging between 160 and 250 feet tall. The tallest, La Danta, is considered to be one of the largest pyramids in the world by total volume. El Mirador thrived from the 6th century BCE to the 1st century CE. It was at its peak around the 3rd century BCE.
Why did Maya leaders value scholarship?
THE CLASSIC PERIOD
Maya civilization reached its cultural and population peaks between 250 and 900 CE. Scholars call this time the Classic Period. Maya accomplishments during this period include the development of their distinctive hieroglyphic system of writing and the wide use of their calendar. It was also during this time that their world of art and architecture underwent big changes. They added multiple colors to their pottery and began to use corbel arches in their building practices. Most of the best-preserved monumental Maya architecture - pyramids, temples, palaces and ball courts - date to this period.
As the its population increased during the Classic Period, Maya civilization grew to some 40 cities, including Tikal, Copán, Bonampak, Calakmul and Palenque. Maya cities, even capital cities, varied in size. Most cities during this period, however, held populations of between 5,000 and 50,000 people. It’s estimated that the capital city of Caracol, one of the largest Maya cities, may have been home to as many as 180,000 people.
With the many innovations that happened during this period, you might guess that the Maya highly valued scholarship and you’d be right. During the Classic Period, Maya leaders depended on scholars to make astronomical calculations and to keep written records. Scholars of this time also developed a sophisticated base 20 mathematics.
The combined work of Maya scholars in the fields of astronomy, writing and math during the Classic Period resulted in an increased count in the construction of dated monuments during this time. This was the period when the many familiar Maya temples and pyramids were built. Although it’s true that some monumental buildings appear earlier than 250 CE, examples are unusual. As a gift to historians, the Classic period is also known for the widespread use of dated stelae and altars to record the political, social and religious history of the Maya.
Toward the end of the Classic Period, the civilization of the Maya began to crumble - literally. Pressures placed on natural resources because of the growth in population ultimately led to an increase in conflicts between Maya city-states. By the ninth century, the Maya population had begun to shrink. As a result, new construction projects were nearly eliminated. Even basic maintenance of existing public structures declined until, finally, some palace rooms were used as dumps before being sealed up and abandoned.
Maya civilization reached its cultural and population peaks between 250 and 900 CE. Scholars call this time the Classic Period. Maya accomplishments during this period include the development of their distinctive hieroglyphic system of writing and the wide use of their calendar. It was also during this time that their world of art and architecture underwent big changes. They added multiple colors to their pottery and began to use corbel arches in their building practices. Most of the best-preserved monumental Maya architecture - pyramids, temples, palaces and ball courts - date to this period.
As the its population increased during the Classic Period, Maya civilization grew to some 40 cities, including Tikal, Copán, Bonampak, Calakmul and Palenque. Maya cities, even capital cities, varied in size. Most cities during this period, however, held populations of between 5,000 and 50,000 people. It’s estimated that the capital city of Caracol, one of the largest Maya cities, may have been home to as many as 180,000 people.
With the many innovations that happened during this period, you might guess that the Maya highly valued scholarship and you’d be right. During the Classic Period, Maya leaders depended on scholars to make astronomical calculations and to keep written records. Scholars of this time also developed a sophisticated base 20 mathematics.
The combined work of Maya scholars in the fields of astronomy, writing and math during the Classic Period resulted in an increased count in the construction of dated monuments during this time. This was the period when the many familiar Maya temples and pyramids were built. Although it’s true that some monumental buildings appear earlier than 250 CE, examples are unusual. As a gift to historians, the Classic period is also known for the widespread use of dated stelae and altars to record the political, social and religious history of the Maya.
Toward the end of the Classic Period, the civilization of the Maya began to crumble - literally. Pressures placed on natural resources because of the growth in population ultimately led to an increase in conflicts between Maya city-states. By the ninth century, the Maya population had begun to shrink. As a result, new construction projects were nearly eliminated. Even basic maintenance of existing public structures declined until, finally, some palace rooms were used as dumps before being sealed up and abandoned.
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THE POST-CLASSIC PERIOD
While the end of the Classic Period saw a decline in Maya population and the ruin of some great Maya cities, it’s civilization did not collapse. Instead of the disappearance of the Maya, the Post-Classic Period is marked by a huge transformation of Maya culture. From 900 CE to 1500 CE, major population centers shifted from the central lowlands and the rainforest to the drier, coastal regions of the northern Yucutan. |
In addition to the geographic shift, Maya culture moved from being a deeply religious one dominated by priests, and divine kings to one more focused on trade. Rather than a social focus on the ceremonial rituals that dominated the Classic Period, the Maya of this period focused on commerce. That shift in focus meant that different Maya cities gained importance.
Important Maya cities of the Post-Classic period include Chichen-Itza, Uxmal and Mayapan. Those cities all developed in the northern Yucatan Peninsula. Moving from the rainforest environment to the much drier climate of the Yucatan created new challenges for the Maya. Instead of collecting rainwater in above ground reservoirs, the Maya who lived in the drier climate of the Yucatan learned how to tap into underground water sources. The dry climate of the northern Yucatan also resulted in a shift in their religious practices. During the Post-Classic era, much of Maya religion is focused on, Chac, the rain god. Buildings from this time are often decorated with carved images of Chac.
Important Maya cities of the Post-Classic period include Chichen-Itza, Uxmal and Mayapan. Those cities all developed in the northern Yucatan Peninsula. Moving from the rainforest environment to the much drier climate of the Yucatan created new challenges for the Maya. Instead of collecting rainwater in above ground reservoirs, the Maya who lived in the drier climate of the Yucatan learned how to tap into underground water sources. The dry climate of the northern Yucatan also resulted in a shift in their religious practices. During the Post-Classic era, much of Maya religion is focused on, Chac, the rain god. Buildings from this time are often decorated with carved images of Chac.
With the arrival of the Spanish in the mid-16th century, the Maya civilization neared its end. The Spanish began their conquest of the Maya in 1527, but it took them 170 years to finish the process. Because there was no central Maya government, each city-state had to be conquered separately. While total Spanish domination took time, the long period of conquest and colonization resulted in the introduction of European diseases, the enslavement of the Maya, the loss of Maya traditions and the destruction of written Maya records resulting in a crushing loss of first-person accounts of Maya history.
MAYA CITIES
In order to understand the Maya and to fully appreciate the complexity of their culture, one must look closely at their cities. The Maya, after all, were the first widespread, urban culture in the Americas.
Even though the Maya were never united under one ruler, there were similarities found in all Maya cities. In some ways, the Maya were much like the ancient Greeks. Though Greek city-states existed separate from one another, with different laws and systems of government, they shared a belief in the same gods. More, it’s easy to imagine Greek columns and temples easily being exchanged between one Greek town and the next. The ability to do so gave Greek cities a certain familiarity. The Maya were like that. The people who lived in Maya cities believed in the same gods, and used the same long count calendar and base-20 mathematics. The cities themselves were also similar and followed a nearly identical construction template.
MAYA CITIES
In order to understand the Maya and to fully appreciate the complexity of their culture, one must look closely at their cities. The Maya, after all, were the first widespread, urban culture in the Americas.
Even though the Maya were never united under one ruler, there were similarities found in all Maya cities. In some ways, the Maya were much like the ancient Greeks. Though Greek city-states existed separate from one another, with different laws and systems of government, they shared a belief in the same gods. More, it’s easy to imagine Greek columns and temples easily being exchanged between one Greek town and the next. The ability to do so gave Greek cities a certain familiarity. The Maya were like that. The people who lived in Maya cities believed in the same gods, and used the same long count calendar and base-20 mathematics. The cities themselves were also similar and followed a nearly identical construction template.
If you diagrammed Maya cities, they would have many things in common. Every Maya city had a central marketplace. Every city had huge pyramids, temples, and at least one ball court. Every city had a palace for the city ruler. There was a large plaza where people could gather. Each city was a center of learning and religion for the people who lived nearby.
While we know that the Maya studied medicines, drama, music, dance, and magic, an exploration of their cities reveals their love for art and their skills in architectural design and construction. Despite not having metal tools (their tools were made of stone, wood, or bone), stepping into a Maya city shows clearly that the Maya were master builders. Throughout Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras they built hundreds of religious centers. In order to link these centers, they built excellent roads that ran for miles through the jungles and swamps.
While we know that the Maya studied medicines, drama, music, dance, and magic, an exploration of their cities reveals their love for art and their skills in architectural design and construction. Despite not having metal tools (their tools were made of stone, wood, or bone), stepping into a Maya city shows clearly that the Maya were master builders. Throughout Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras they built hundreds of religious centers. In order to link these centers, they built excellent roads that ran for miles through the jungles and swamps.
PYRAMIDS, PALACES, TEMPLES, & STELAE
Pyramids - Mesoamerica is littered with pyramids. A Maya pyramid has a square base with four triangular sides. The Maya built step pyramids. You could climb them. Some were taller, some were skinnier. Some were flat topped. All were important. Pyramids and temples were aligned astronomically to the orbits of the sun and moon, and they were built to honor their gods and their leaders. Many Maya pyramids have elaborate carvings and glyphs on their sides. Some pyramids have temples on top. Maya priests climbed the pyramids to conduct ritual ceremonies on the steps where everyone could see them. The most important ceremonies - including sacrifice - were conducted at the top of the pyramids, which had flat tops. Some of the Maya pyramids, like the one at El Mirador, are huge, soaring up two hundred feet.
Pyramids - Mesoamerica is littered with pyramids. A Maya pyramid has a square base with four triangular sides. The Maya built step pyramids. You could climb them. Some were taller, some were skinnier. Some were flat topped. All were important. Pyramids and temples were aligned astronomically to the orbits of the sun and moon, and they were built to honor their gods and their leaders. Many Maya pyramids have elaborate carvings and glyphs on their sides. Some pyramids have temples on top. Maya priests climbed the pyramids to conduct ritual ceremonies on the steps where everyone could see them. The most important ceremonies - including sacrifice - were conducted at the top of the pyramids, which had flat tops. Some of the Maya pyramids, like the one at El Mirador, are huge, soaring up two hundred feet.
Palaces - Each Maya city was ruled by one noble family. The job of ruler was hereditary. When one ruler died, his son took over. The Maya built palaces for their rulers. so each city had a palace built for that city’s ruler. Typically, there was one palace per city. Palaces were often large, elaborate buildings with many stories. They were often built around a central garden or court for protection and privacy and frequently included additional space for government officials to perform administrative work such as the regulation of trade and the collection of tributes or taxes. With its courtyards, patios and towers, the palace in Palenque is regarded as one of the most beautiful.
Temples - Temples were places of worship and home to the many Maya priests. The Maya typically placed their ball courts at the foot of the temple. Like the palaces, the temples had a central courtyard offering privacy to those who lived there.
Temples - Temples were places of worship and home to the many Maya priests. The Maya typically placed their ball courts at the foot of the temple. Like the palaces, the temples had a central courtyard offering privacy to those who lived there.
Ball Courts- Because ball courts are a common feature of Maya cities, the ball courts and the games played within them were important to the Maya people. Some cities had only one. Others had many. The style of all Maya ball court is basically the same, but they could vary greatly in size. Courts had a large playing area with a stone hoop mounted in the wall at one end. Bleachers surrounded each ball court, evidence that the games played were widely enjoyed.
Like so many things Maya, there remains a bit of mystery about the ancient Maya ball game. Sure, the ball game could be played for athletic fun, but because ball courts were usually positioned at the foot of a temple it is believed that ball games also had religious meanings and were played to honor the Hero Twins and other gods and goddesses.
The game the Maya played on their ball courts was called Pok-A-Tok. Pok-A-Tok is like a cross between soccer and basketball - except much, much more difficult to play. The object of the game was for the two opposing side to try and hit a solid, hard rubber ball into a stone hoop placed at both ends of the playing field. Players, however, could not hit the ball with their hands. It had to be hit with their hips, shoulders, or arms. Ballplayers wore protective clothing when playing.
Like so many things Maya, there remains a bit of mystery about the ancient Maya ball game. Sure, the ball game could be played for athletic fun, but because ball courts were usually positioned at the foot of a temple it is believed that ball games also had religious meanings and were played to honor the Hero Twins and other gods and goddesses.
The game the Maya played on their ball courts was called Pok-A-Tok. Pok-A-Tok is like a cross between soccer and basketball - except much, much more difficult to play. The object of the game was for the two opposing side to try and hit a solid, hard rubber ball into a stone hoop placed at both ends of the playing field. Players, however, could not hit the ball with their hands. It had to be hit with their hips, shoulders, or arms. Ballplayers wore protective clothing when playing.
Some games were played against captives, people from other Indian tribes that Maya warriors had captured. Poorly fed, exhausted, beaten captives made up one team, and professional Maya ballplayers made up the other. The beaten captives always lost these games. Whether playing Pok-A-Tok among themselves or against other Maya cities, the winning team got to keep the jewelry of the losing team. For years, it’s been believed that the leader of the losing team would be sacrificed to the Maya gods. However, some scholars now believe that it was the winner who was sacrificed.
BRAINBOX: Why would the Maya sacrifice the winner of Pok-a Tok? What might be the drawbacks of doing so?
Stela - Stelae (the plural of stela) appear all over Maya lands. A stela is a tall stone slab that is decorated with carved images and inscribed with hieroglyphic writing. Some stelae describe a king’s divine right to rule. Others were built to honor an important event such as the heroic deed of a king. The hieroglyphics inscribed on the stela told about the event. Stelae were placed where people could see them. Often, stelae were designed with drawings so that common Maya could understand them.
BRAINBOX: Why would the Maya sacrifice the winner of Pok-a Tok? What might be the drawbacks of doing so?
Stela - Stelae (the plural of stela) appear all over Maya lands. A stela is a tall stone slab that is decorated with carved images and inscribed with hieroglyphic writing. Some stelae describe a king’s divine right to rule. Others were built to honor an important event such as the heroic deed of a king. The hieroglyphics inscribed on the stela told about the event. Stelae were placed where people could see them. Often, stelae were designed with drawings so that common Maya could understand them.