Rowe 1

Samanta Rowe Seora Feldotte Advanced Spanish 6 January 2014 Ancient Maya Culture As an American Indian people who developed a magnificent civilization in Central America and south Mexico, the Maya reigned from A.D. 250 to 900. The Maya produced remarkable architecture, painting, pottery, and sculpture. They also made great advancements in astronomy and mathematics, and even developed an accurate yearly calendar. They were one of the first cultures to develop an advanced form of writing as well. The Mayas are one of the oldest societies documented, and come from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in Central America and Mexico. You can still visit the ruins of the ancient people in these places today, like the Chichen Itza temple in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Although the Maya civilization eventually blended into other surrounding people, there are still many descendants of the ancient Mayas who speak Maya languages and preserve their own traditions and arts, such as creating beautiful textiles (woven fabric). The Ancient Maya were so advanced in some sciences that modern day people often feel as if they have mystical powers and take their predictions very seriously (like the prediction that the world may end due to an astronomical power in 2012). They are possibly the first culture to develop the telescope and map the stars and other phenomena in the night sky using difficult mathematics. Using this information they developed a nearly accurate calendar. Many of the events of their daily life were organized according to this calendar.

Rowe 2

The Ancient Maya believed in cycles and nature, and many of their rites and religious events were held at specific times of the year. They believed in three planes of existence: The Earth, The Heavens (above) and the Underworld (below). These planes all had their own gods, not all of whom were good, especially those dealing with death. Some art suggests that they believed in human sacrifice, and it was performed by priests for the good of the whole community. The Ancient Maya also believed that the night sky was a window to the gods and cosmos, and consulted three different calendars for religious events: a solar, a lunar and one based on the planet Venus. In some parts of Guatemala the lunar calendar is still used for religious traditions. Many rites are originally centered on the life cycle of maize crops. The ruins of the Ancient Maya are fascinating for travelers from all over the world, and attract large crowds. Many of their structures were rebuilt on top of one another and show us exactly how they observed the stars and performed religious rites. Many ruins show that they incorporated information they knew about the sun and stars, such as the snake shadow that appears on the stairs of the pyramid-like once a year. Caves were also popular, and often contain Mayan hieroglyphics that are still intact. The art of the Maya, as with every civilization, is a reflection of their lifestyle and culture. The art was composed of delineation and painting upon paper and plaster, carvings in wood and stone, clay and stucco models, and terra cotta figurines from molds. The technical process of metal working was also highly developed but the resources were scarce. Many of the great programs of Maya art, inscriptions, and architecture were led by Mayan kings to ensure their place in history. The works are a reflection of the society and its interaction with surrounding people.

Rowe 3

The Maya today inhabit two specific regions of Mxico. They are both the Lowlands and the Highlands. The lowlands represent 30,000 Chontal Indians, 200-300 Lacandon Indians, 40,000 Chol Indians, and 400,000 Mayans of the Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo areas. The highlands people represent 100,000 Tzotils, 60,000 Tzetals, and 30,000 Mames, as well as 15,000 Tojolabals. All of these diverse groups make up an area that has extreme cultural and historical wisdom. The ruins of the Maya cities are tourist attractions. By visiting these Mayan ruins, tourists help keep the spirit alive and ensure that the Mayan culture will never be forgotten.

Sources: Books: The World Book Encyclopedia, The Ancient Maya, Mayan Culture, National Geographic: The Maya Websites: http://www.history.com/topics/maya, http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/Maya/p/Timeline-Of-The-Ancient-Maya.htm