The Mayan Civilization And The Maya Empire - 1677 Words

The Mayan civilization or the Maya Empire, centered in the tropical lowlands of what is now Guatemala, reached the peak of its power and influence around the sixth century A.D. The Maya excelled at agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, calendar-making and mathematics, and left behind an astonishing amount of impressive architecture and symbolic artwork. Most of the great stone cities of the Maya were abandoned by A.D. 900. The Maya civilization was one of the most dominant indigenous societies of Mesoamerica. Unlike other scattered indigenous populations of Mesoamerica, the Maya were centered in one geographical block covering all of the Yucatan Peninsula and modern-day Guatemala; Belize and parts of the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas; and the western part of Honduras and El Salvador. This concentration showed that the Maya remained relatively secure from invasion by other Mesoamerican peoples. Within that expanse, the Maya lived in three separate sub-areas with distinct environmental and cultural differences: the northern Maya lowlands on the Yucatan Peninsula; the southern lowlands in the Peten district of northern Guatemala and adjacent portions of Mexico, Belize and western Honduras; and the southern Maya highlands, in the mountainous region of southern Guatemala. The earliest Maya settlements date to around 1800 B.C., or the beginning of what is called the Preclassic or Formative Period. The Middle Preclassic Period also saw the rise of the first majorShow MoreRelatedCharacteristics Of The Mayan Civilizations733 Words   |  3 Pagesof civilizations. Three major ones are the Aztec, Maya, and Inca . These different civilizations play a very important role in history today. The Maya empire was highly skilled at building and architecture. They also were the only empire in mesoamerica to develop a complete writing system. The Maya were also highly skilled at agriculture and farming. The Maya were by far the most advanced and smart civilization. The Maya empire was very precise and exact when it came to architecture. Mayans builtRead MoreEnd of Mayan Civilization1143 Words   |  5 PagesEnd of Mayan Civilization Samuel Nathaniel H. Stansbury HUM 111 11/3/2012 The mystery concerning the fundamental explanation for the collapse of the Mayan Civilization has been a major focus for researchers in the fields of anthropology and archeology for a considerable period of time. At the very core of this mystery of the Mayan collapse was the question of how could such a strong, stable civilization that had flourished for approximately twenty-seven hundred years disappear without a clearRead MoreThe Fall of the Mayan Empire Essay1517 Words   |  7 Pages The fall of the Mayan Empire The collapse of the Mayan Empire is one of history’s greatest mysteries. It was one of the most advanced and developed civilizations of its time period, reining during the Pre-Classic period and into the Classic and Post-Classic Periods (2000 B.C. – 900 A.D.). The territory stretched from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, down to modern day El Salvador in Central America. Its achievements were monumental for the era, being the first empire communicating with the useRead MoreThe Ancient Civilization1622 Words   |  7 PagesThe intrigue of The Mayans has always existed through the telling of their ritualistic practices or their calendar, but the fall of such an advanced civilization is perhaps the most intriguing story of all.To understand what causes great civilizations, it is vital to note the process of collapse in other civilizations, such as the great Roman Empire. Differences in time period, geographical landscapes, and other circumstances mean no direct correlati ons are possible, but the outstanding point ofRead MoreDbq 9: Civilizations of the Americas1258 Words   |  6 PagesDBQ 9: Civilizations of the Americas The Mayan, Aztec and Incan civilizations each contributed major accomplishments to the world today. These accomplishments established them as advanced societies during their time. The Incans built a large road system, devised a complex irrigation system and developed their own language. The Mayans constructed the largest structure known until modern times, made drastic accomplishments in mathematics, studied astronomy and formed a calendar. The Aztecs builtRead MoreAnalysis Of Laura Gilpin s Life1617 Words   |  7 Pagesshed light on fading Mayan culture, as well as the beautiful ruins of Chichen Itza. This once great center of the Mayan empire is essential to understanding the esteem of the Mayan people. Additionally, The Rio Grand: River of Destiny, was a collection that studied the great river and the inhabitants along its banks. This book debuted the following year in 1949. Although Gilpin’s career focused primarily on Native American life, I researched her photography from 1948 on Mayan culture, and choseRead MoreThe Aztecs Werelocated In Mexico, Built On A Series Of1180 Words   |  5 Pagesinfluence today s society in such fields as education and pharmacology. The Aztec empire was one of the first to require mandatory education for its children. The Maya are an indigenous people of Mexico and Central America who have continuously inhabited the lands comprising modern-day Yucatà ¡n, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Tabasco, and Chiapas in Mexico and southward through Guatemala,Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Maya of Yucatan and Guatemala exhibited a cultural continuity spanning more than 2,000Read MoreEconomy in Early American Civilizations: Maya, Aztecs and Inca865 Words   |  4 Pagessocieties were very similar. One of these societies, the Mayans, lived in southern Mexico and northern Central America from the 3rd to the 10th century CE, and they relied on the trade of goods such as obsidian and crops such as cacao beans. Another American civilization was the Aztec civilization. They were located in the Valley of Mexico around the 13th to 16th century CE, and they used slash-and-burn farming to plant crops to trade. The Inca Empire existed from the 13th to the 16th century CE alongRead MoreThe Decline Of The Mayan Civilizatio n1143 Words   |  5 PagesThe early Mayan civilization had lowly beginnings. They rose to remarkable heights in a seemingly inhospitable land. As Maya scholar Arthur Demarest said â€Å"Such a civilization, had no business there.† The Mayans had to battle with torrential rain in the rainy season, and when the weather turned hot, it scorched the land and their water supplies would plummet. They were always faced with floods or drought. They were probably forced here due to overcrowding from other tribes. But nonetheless they beganRead MoreThe Rise And Fall Of The Mayan Civilization1018 Words   |  5 Pagesof rainfall, and agriculture. (Judge Langdon, 2012) The Mesoamericans, Aztec and Mayan tribes, developed into complex civilizations for multiple reasons. These societies were advanced and complex for their time in areas, such as architecture, agriculture, militarism, and education. Each had unique religion and political systems as well. The rise and fall of both were du e to several factors. The Mayan civilization society was very complex and intelligent; rising to become very influential to people