The Complete Idiot's Guide to 2012 - Dr. Synthia Andrews Nd [7]
Limited Sources
Regardless of the scientific advances, keep in mind the limited sources of information we have. In addition to the three surviving codices are two holy books translated into Spanish by Mayan scribes in the late 1500s. These books, the Popol Vuh and Chilam Balam, have been invaluable in understanding Mayan thought. However, a lot of what we know comes from inscriptions on monuments, funeral tombs, buildings, and murals in the temples. (See Chapter 2 for more on these books and the surviving codices.)
Imagine what would happen if all evidence of present-day American culture disappeared except for a couple of books and what was written on gravestones, public buildings, churches, shrines, and monuments. What would future explorers think excavating Washington, D.C., and deciphering the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the lists of soldiers lost in World Wars I and II, Vietnam, and Korea? After reading our tombstones in Arlington Cemetery what would they think of our beliefs of the afterlife? We can all agree they would not have a complete view of our culture!
So what do we know about the ancient Maya? They farmed squash, corn, beans, cocoa, and other crops, which they both consumed and traded in the huge central plazas of their towns and cities. They grew cotton and developed a textile industry that spun and dyed thread used to weave clothing, bags, and ceremonial objects. They built elaborate roads, temples, astronomical observatories, and palaces.
They were both artists and scientists, but they never developed the wheel or used metal tools. They used obsidian, a very hard glass created from prehistoric volcanic lava, for spears and knifes. Even though they did not use metal tools, they mined copper, gold, silver, and jade, with which they made valuable art pieces and treasures. Mayan artwork is considered the most sophisticated in Mesoamerica.
Mayan Communities
The Maya lived in cities and villages that were related but there was no central government. Each region spoke its own dialect of the Mayan language. Every city was governed by a king who claimed descendance from a different god in the Mayan pantheon. Most of the time the kings were also shamans, or holy men, and served to open portals to the gods via ecstatic states (you’ll learn more about portals in Chapters 2 and 3). The Maya still believe the material world is the result of spiritual forces, so the role of the king was essential. He not only had access to knowledge and wisdom for science but also was key to the survival and supremacy of the people. When things went wrong, there were no scapegoats; it was the king’s responsibility to make things right.
Wealth was controlled by a powerful elite class and supported by the work of the peasantry. The Maya engaged in warfare as well as trade with neighboring city-states and other tribes. They were fierce in battle, as we know from the war monuments! Kings did not plan wars and send young men to battle. They led the battles themselves, and if they lost, they were sacrificed so the people could continue. It’s also thought that the Maya settled disputes in the ball courts as an alternative to war. Ball courts were stadiums where ball games were played. At the end of the game, the losing (and occasionally, even the winning!) teammates were often sacrificed.
Mayan centers were large with huge populations. The Guatemalan ancient city of Tikal had an estimated population of well over 50,000 people. It covered six square miles and had more than 3,000 buildings. There were huge palaces boasting hundreds of rooms, multiple plazas, and miles of wooden huts. (And this at a time when London was a lonely outpost of the Roman Empire!)
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