Ancient Maya Civilization Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Discussion about a lost civilization in the rainforest, the ancient Maya.
• Known for their supernatural attributes, architecture, and culture.
• Lasted over a thousand years before collapsing.
• Rulers created sky-high pyramids, ornate palaces, and lavish plazas.

Collapse of the Maya Civilization

• By 869 AD, Maya faced food and water shortages.
• Political turmoil and loss of faith in divine rulers.
• Cities abandoned and population decreased.
• Mystery remains about what happened to the Maya people.

Maya Hieroglyphs and Warfare

• Hieroglyphs reveal Maya's history of warfare and rulers.
• Maya code is a complete writing system in the Americas.
• Shift from peaceful city-states to warfare and human sacrifice.

Rise and Fall of Maya City-States

• Maya existed before Christ, with major sites by 500 BC.
• By 250 AD, organized kingdoms and powerful rulers emerged.
• Tikal: Major city, flourished from pre-Classic to Classic periods.
• Calakmul: Rival power to Tikal.
• Warfare for divine appeasement and autonomy.

Engineering and Architecture

• Maya used malleable limestone and manpower for construction.
• Temple of the Giant Jaguar as a symbol of power.
• Building in semi-tropical environments with rudimentary technology.

Dynamics of Maya Kingdoms

• Tikal's rivalry with Calakmul led to strategic warfare.
• Yekin Khan Qawin, a Tikal leader, built iconic structures.
• Temple 4: Tallest structure in Tikal, showcasing power.

Palenque and Pakal the Great

• Palenque: Another major Maya city, began a building campaign.
• Pakal the Great: Important Maya king of Palenque.
• Temple of the Inscriptions: Burial site for Pakal, rich in symbolism.

Innovations in Architecture

• Corbeled Vault: Common Maya architectural technique.
• Pakal's engineers innovated to reduce structural stress.
• Khan Balam, Pakal's son, continued architectural advancements.
• Advanced mathematical observations, concept of zero.

Understanding Maya Mathematics

• Maya developed a number system with zero.
• Used geometric calculations and proportions like the golden mean.
• Advanced understanding exceeded Greeks and Romans.

Water Management in Palenque

• Abundance of water managed through subterranean aqueducts.
• Engineers possibly created water pressure for running water.

Maya Civilization's Decline

• Environmental and societal factors led to collapse.
• Movement from southern to northern cities, like Chichen Itza.

Legacy of Maya Astronomy

• Chichen Itza: A cosmopolitan center important for astronomy.
• El Caracol: Astronomical observatory precise in tracking celestial events.
• Maya calendars, more accurate than those of other ancient civilizations.

Maya Against European Conquest

• Spanish arrived in 1517, Maya put up a sustained resistance.
• Disease and conversion attempts by missionaries led to further decline.

Preservation of Maya Knowledge

• Codices survived attempts to destroy Maya texts.
• Recent archaeological methods reveal more about the civilization.

Conclusion

• Maya were a sophisticated civilization with advanced understanding of architecture, mathematics, and astronomy.
• Many sites remain unexcavated, promising future discoveries.