Archaeology: What's Hot Now: Maya Civilization Guide

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Maya Civilization Guide Dec 28th 2011, 11:01 Overview You are Here-->Timeline and King List Important Facts Maya Ruins and Additional Sources Bibliography Timeline Mesoamerican archaeology is broken up into general sections. The "Maya" are in general thought to have maintained a cultural continuity between about 500 BC and AD 900, with the "Classic Maya" beween AD 250-900. Archaic before 2500 BC Hunting and gathering lifestyle prevails. Early Formative 2500-1000 BC First beans and maize agriculture, people live in isolated farmsteads and hamlets Middle Formative 1000-400 BC First monumental architecture, first villages; people switch to full-time agriculture, Olmec contacts, and, at Nakbe, the first evidence of social ranking, beginning about 600-400 BC Important sites: Nakbe, Chalchuapa, Kaminaljuyu Late Formative 400 BC-AD 250 First massive palaces are built at urban Nakbe and El Mirador, first writing, constructed road systems and water control, organized trade and widespread warfare Important sites: El Mirador, Nakbe, Cerros, Komchen, Tikal, Kaminaljuyu Classic AD 250-900 Widespread literacy including calendars and lists of royal lineages at Copán and Tikal, first dynastic kingdoms, changing political alliances, large palaces and mortuary pyramids constructed, intensification of agriculture. Populations peak at about 100 per square kilometers. Paramount kings and polities installed at Tikal, Calakmul, Caracol, and Dos Pilos Important sites: Copán, Palenque, Tikal, Calakmul, Caracol, Dos Pilas, Uxmal, Coba, Dzibilchaltun, Kabah, Labna, Sayil Postclassic AD 900-1500 Some centers abandoned, written records stop. Puuc hill country flourishes and small rural towns prosper near rivers and lakes until the Spanish arrive in 1517 Important sites: Chichén Itzá, Mayapan, Iximche, Utatlan) Known Kings and Leaders Each independent Maya city had its own set of institutionalized rulers, beginning in the Classic period (AD 250-900). Documentary evidence for the kings and queens has been found on stele and temple wall inscriptions and a few sarcophagi. During the Classic period, kings were generally in charge of a particular city and its supporting region. The area controlled by a specific king might be hundreds or even thousands of square kilometers. The ruler's court included palaces, temples and ball courts, and great plazas, open areas where festivals and other public events were held. Kings were hereditary positions, and, at least after they were dead, the kings were sometimes considered gods. As an example, below are linked what is known of the dynastic records of Palenque and Copán. Rulers of Palenque Rulers of Copán Overview You are Here-->Timeline and King List Important Facts Maya Ruins and Additional Sources Bibliography

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