The Maya people were spread
out over a territory of about 500 thousand square
kilometers, covering the present-day Mexican states of
Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Chiapas and Campeche,
and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Belize,
the western portion of El Salvador and Honduras. Their
origins go back some 5000 years, or perhaps further,
although the first recorded settlements are more recent,
as in Guatemala, around 2500 B.C. or in Yucatan, dating
from 1600 B.C.
From a historian's point of view, the evolution
of the Maya people is divided into three main periods :
the Pre-classic (1600 B.C. - 250 A.D.), the Classic (250
- 900 A.D.) and the Post classic (900 - 1542). Each
represents a different phase in the development that
characterized the social and cultural activities of the
different Maya groups up to their conquest by the
Spaniards in 1548. The first contact between the two
occurred much earlier, in 1511, when an expedition
arrived in the area where the sole survivors were
Jeronimo de Aguilar, who would later become a guide and
interpreter for Hernan Cortes, and Gonzalo Guerrero, the
first Spaniard to become integrated into everyday Maya
life. Dating from its collapse under Spanish domination,
the Maya people would retreat to the jungle where they
continued to evolve in silence up to the present. For
this reason, it cannot be said that the Maya culture is
a dead culture; to the contrary, it survives in its
people, in the form of legends, sayings and customs
which keep the magic and knowledge of a millennial
wisdom alive.
The
Maya culture left an enormous cultural legacy,
developing a unique architecture, the design of jewelry
and ceramics, the construction of an advanced written
language, and an amazing knowledge of mathematics and
astronomy, more advanced than that of European
civilization at the time.
There
are not many facts concerning the beginnings of the
Pre-classic Period known as the Early Pre-classic Period
(1800 - 1000 B.C.) - which developed in the area that is
now Guatemala and Chiapas - that can be obtained from
remains hidden in the ground, since the state of
evolution was still rudimentary. Nevertheless, all
observations seem to indicate that this was the era when
agriculture developed based on planting maize, and when
hunting weapons were perfected using arrows with
obsidian points.
The
application of irrigation techniques allowed for better
crops which were the basis for demographic expansion
during this period. It is upon this foundation that the
Middle Pre-classic Period is established (1000 - 500
B.C.) when stone constructions began to appear, such as
those found at the excavations in Nakb'e, in El Pet'en,
North of Guatemala. During the Late Pre-classic (500
B.C. - 250 A.D.) the distinctive signs of Maya culture
became evident such as writing, the first calendars and
limestone constructions. During this period altar
temples were built, such as the Kiminaljuyu in
Guatemala, mythical scenes in two dimensions were
painted, and monuments were erected. Mathematics and
astronomy also began during this final evolutionary
phase.
The
Classic Period (250 - 900 A.D.) represents the most
complex and richest stage. The vigesimal system was
adopted and the cycles of the Moon, Venus and Saturn
were studied, giving rise to the invention of two
superimposed calendars which completed 52-year cycles,
and hieroglyphic writing also made its appearance.
During this time of economic expansion, commercial
networks were strengthened and cacao grains were used as
currency for commercial exchange. The principal cities
during this period were Tikal, North of Guatemala, Uxmal,
West of Yucatan, and Edzn'a in the State of Campeche.
Techniques for painting murals were perfected and stucco
(a mixture of quicklime, water and "sascab" - limestone
gravel) was used to decorate the walls and façades, and
also as a basic material for sculptures. Small statues
were crafted out of clay, dated stone carvings ("estelas")
were erected and ceramic objects were created using
refined techniques.
In
the Post classic Period, the cultural mix increased and
predominance passed to Chichen Itza (Tour
Chichen Itza (with Transportation)) and Mayapan, to
Uxmal in the West, and to the city of Coba in the East.
Tulum and Xel Ha, located in the State of Quintana Roo,
were also part of this culture. It was in this zone
where the Mexican-Toltec and the Itzaes influence were
combined to implant the cult of Kukulcan, the plumed
serpent of the Toltecs. Maya civilization reached its
twilight after the fall of Chichen Itza as a result of
internal conflicts.
The
arrival of the Spaniards brought about the demise of the
Maya civilization's independence. Nevertheless, its
culture, mythology and science stood fast against the
onslaught of Western culture and remain alive today.
Archaeology
Even though the Maya
culture remains present in the Riviera Maya,
through the many indigenous communities still found here
which preserve the traditions, religion and social
structure of the Maya people, the splendor of ancient
Maya civilization is most evident in the numerous
archaeological sites in this area. It is through the
pyramids, "pelota " ( ball ) playing fields, sculpted stone
pillars, plazas and temples that some of the mysteries
still surrounding one of America's most important
cultures have been partially deciphered.

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