Maya civilization

:This article is about the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. See Maya people for a discussion of the modern Maya. For other meanings of the word Maya, see Maya (disambiguation)

Origins

Archaeological evidence shows the Maya started to build ceremonial architecture at approximately 1000 BC. There is some disagreement about the borders and difference between the early Maya and their neighboring Pre-Classic Mesoamerican civilization, the Olmec culture. The Olmec and early Maya seem to have influenced each other.

Related Topics:
Archaeological - Olmec

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The earliest monuments consist of simple burial mounds, the precursors to pyramids erected in later times.

Related Topics:
Burial mounds - Pyramids

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eventually, the Olmec culture faded after spreading its influence into the Yucatan peninsula, present-day Guatemala, and other regions.

Related Topics:
Yucatan - Guatemala

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Maya developed the famed cities of Tikal, Palenque, Copán and Kalakmul, as well as Dos Pilas, Uaxactun, Altun Ha, Bonampak and many other sites in the area (see list of sites, below). They developed an agriculturally intensive, city-centered empire consisting of numerous independent city-states. The most notable monuments are the pyramids they built in their religious centers and the accompanying palaces of their rulers. Other important archaeological remains include the carved stone slabs usually called stelae (the Maya called them Tetun, or "Tree-stones"), which depict rulers along with hieroglyphic texts describing their genealogy, war victories, and other accomplishments.

Related Topics:
Tikal - Palenque - Copán - Kalakmul - Dos Pilas - Uaxactun - Altun Ha - Bonampak - List of sites - City-state - Religious - Genealogy - War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Maya participated in long distance trade in Mesoamerica and possibly further lands. Important trade goods included cacao, salt, and obsidian; see also: Obsidian use in Mesoamerica.

Related Topics:
Cacao - Salt - Obsidian - Obsidian use in Mesoamerica

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~