Mayan Civilization

The Maya flourished in an area designated "Mesoamerica," today consisting of Southern Mexico and parts of Central America, from roughly 1800 BC until the Spanish conquest of the Yucatan in the 16th and 17th Century. The Maya are particularly notable for their spectacular architecture and advanced understanding of mathematics and astronomy.

1. Duration: 1800 BC - 17th Century AD
2. Region: Mexico, Central America
3. Mayan descendants are said to reside in Mexico
4. Maya codices were written on bark paper
5. Largest City: Tikal

"Mayan" is a language family consisting of over 30 individual languages. About 6 million Mayan descendants continue to speak variations on Mayan languages to this day, most of them in Mexico and Guatemala.

The Maya constructed an array of complex stone structures, including temples, observatories and even athletic courts. The lack of animals suitable for this form of labor means that the vast majority of the actual work of carrying materials was done by humans. The most iconic image of Mayan architecture is likely the famous stepped pyramids, like those seen in the temples of Tikal.

• 2000 BC: Rise of the Olmec civilization from which the Mayan culture is derived. Village farming in Mayan regions.

• 300 BC: Rule by nobles and kings starts

• 100 BC: City of Teotihuacán founded

• 400: Teotihuacán dominates and end of Mayan culture begin in some areas

• 500: Tikal becomes first great Mayan city

• 600: Teotihuacán destroyed. Tikal becomes largest city

• 683: Emperor Pacal dies, buried in the Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque

• 751: Mayan trade declines, conflict increases

• 869: Tikal construction stops

• 899: Tikal is abandoned

• 900: The northern cities in Yucatán thrive and Puuc style is developed in Uxmal, Kabah and Labná

• 1200: Northern cities start to become abandoned

• 1224: Itzá settle in the abandoned city of Chichén Itzá. They leave for unknown reasons in 1244.

• 1263: Itzá start building the city of Mayapán and it becomes capital of Yucatán in 1283

• 1461: Mayapán abandoned; warring groups compete to rule

• 1517: Spanish arrive in Yucatán bringing diseases like smallpox, influenza and measles

• The following links are to Wikipedia:

• Classic Maya Collapse

• Spanish Conquest of Yucatán

• Caste War of Yucatán

• Some of the following links are to Wikipedia:

• Sak K'uk'

• Pacal the Great

• Mesoweb.com: K'inich Ahkal Mo' Nahb' III

• Gonzalo Guerrero

• Francisco de Montejo

• Mahalo's Guide to Hernán Cortés

• Ancient Worlds: Maya Message Board

• BibliOdyssey: Mayan Civilization Bas Reliefs at Palenque

• Dans Blog: Similarities of Chinese Medicine and Mayan Healing

• Tribe: Mayan Civilization

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