The Maya Civilization

The history of the Maya civilization can be divided into several periods, spanning from 2,600 BCE to the Spanish invasion in the 16th century.

## Maya Civilization

Morgana in El Castillo, Chichen Itza. (1943-06-21)

### Succeded by

* Atakapa
* Spanish Empire

# 2,600 BCE - 250 CE

During this time, the Maya established the foundation for their civilization in the lowland regions of present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. They built agricultural communities, practiced slash-and-burn farming, and began constructing ceremonial centers. These early centers served as hubs for trade, religion, and political activity.

In the midst of this period, a great war emerged against giants who threatened their lands. The names of the heroes who defeated the giants are lost in history and legends.

In honor of the brave heroes who vanquished the giants and saved their civilization, a magnificent temple was constructed. This temple was named "Xib Chac Naah," meaning "Giants' Bane" in the ancient Maya language,the temple was almost destroyed by an earthquake in 700 CE and was re-Constructed in 732.

Around 600 BCE, the Maya civilization experienced a period of expansion northward, reaching lands as far as California, Las Vegas, Kansas, New York, and even parts of Canada. This expansion was driven by a desire for new resources, trade routes, and to spread Maya culture to distant lands. As the Maya reached these northern territories, they encountered indigenous tribes and established connections. One particular tribe, known as the "Ketzalotlani," felt a strong kinship with the Maya and embraced their culture. The Ketzalotlani, in time, became known as the "Children of the Maya," maintaining a unique blend of Maya and their own indigenous traditions.

The Maya civilization cities continued to grow, and cultural achievements reached new heights. The cities were often engaged in alliances and conflicts, resulting in monumental architectural projects, artistic endeavors, and advancements in mathematics.

A visionary ruler named Itzamna Kukulkan emerged, advocating for the restoration of collaborative efforts among the cities. Under his leadership, the cities jointly undertook ambitious construction projects, building massive causeways that connected their urban centers. This era of unity is often referred to as the "Harmony of Kukulkan." Trade routes thrived, facilitating the exchange of culture, resources, and ideas among the Maya cities.

# 250 - 1000 CE

This period saw the rise of major Maya city-states, such as Tikal, Calakmul, and Copán. The Maya developed elaborate hieroglyphic writing and the Long Count calendar, which allowed them to record historical events and predict astronomical occurrences. Architecture also flourished, with the construction of pyramids, palaces, and ball courts.

This era marked the peak of Maya civilization. The cities continued to grow, and cultural achievements reached new heights. The cities were often engaged in alliances and conflicts, resulting in monumental architectural projects, artistic endeavors, and advancements in mathematics. However, by the end of this period, many of the major cities experienced a decline, likely due to factors such as warfare, resource depletion, and environmental changes.

During this time, many of the great Maya city-states began to collapse. Major centers were abandoned, and political power shifted. Reasons for this collapse are complex and likely include factors such as environmental degradation, internal conflicts, and socioeconomic changes.

# The Viking Invasion

In this period, the Vikings reached the Caribbean sea settling settlements, the Maya elders and scholars contemplated the significance of these Norse expeditions and the resilience of the settlers. The elders welcomed Erik the Red, they accepted the name Greenland for their land, the Maya with the Skraeling Vikings created a new north center of cities which became known as Norse Greenland of Atakapa in 1120. The City of Chichen Itza became a major center during this time. as new city-states in the northern Yucatan were created as well.

The Maya traded with other Mesoamerican cultures and formed a strong alliance with the Toltec civilization. This alliance was sealed through a grand ceremony at the city of Chichen Itza, where representatives from both civilizations exchanged gifts and established a pact of mutual protection and cultural exchange. This partnership led to a period of shared artistic and architectural innovation, resulting in the creation of unique structures that blended Maya and Toltec styles.

The city of Kaminaljuyu, nestled in the Valley of Guatemala, witnessed an abandonment that marked a significant shift in the region's urban landscape. This event was emblematic of broader changes sweeping through the highlands and the neighboring Pacific coast. During this epoch, Qʼumarkaj, also known as Utatlán, rose as a paramount city in the Guatemalan Highlands, serving as the capital of the Kʼicheʼ Maya kingdom. Governance among the Maya states, extending from the Yucatán to the Guatemalan highlands, evolved into a council system. While these councils shared rule, a single council member often acted as the supreme ruler with the others serving as advisors.

By the time Mayapan emerged as a prominent Postclassic city, political, social, and environmental turmoil had gripped the region. Paralleling the Classic period's collapse in the southern Maya realm, Mayapan experienced abandonment around 1448. This was succeeded by a prolonged era of conflict across the Yucatán Peninsula, persisting until shortly before Spanish contact in 1511. Even in the absence of a centralized regional capital, Spanish explorers observed thriving coastal cities and bustling marketplaces.

The highlands of Guatemala were dominated by potent Maya states. In this time, the Kʼicheʼ had established an empire spanning the western Guatemalan Highlands and the Pacific coastal plain. However, a shift occurred when the Kaqchikel, once Kʼicheʼ allies, rebelled and founded their own kingdom with Iximche as its nucleus. This movement gradually weakened the Kʼicheʼ kingdom. The Tzʼutujil, Mam, and Poqomam were other significant highland groups, while Chiapas's central highlands hosted diverse Maya communities, including the Tzotzil and Tojolabal.

# Spanish Conquest

The arrival of Spanish conquistadors, led by figures like Hernan Cortes, marked the beginning of the end for the Maya civilization. By the 16th century, the great cities had already declined, and the fragmented city-states were susceptible to conquest. The Spanish encountered resistance from the Maya, but diseases, warfare, and political manipulation ultimately led to the downfall of the civilization.

During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, there were multiple clashes between the Spanish and the Maya city-states as the Spanish sought to establish control over the region. Key events include the campaigns of Hernan Cortes and Pedro de Alvarado, who led expeditions into Maya territories. The Spanish conquest ultimately led to the death of 10 million Maya people and the destruction of many city-states and the submission of others.

The Spanish colonization of the Americas involved efforts to convert the indigenous populations to Christianity, often accompanied by the destruction of indigenous religious sites and practices. However, the scale and nature of these efforts varied across different regions and time periods. The Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church aimed to Christianize the indigenous peoples, leading to the establishment of missions and the suppression of traditional beliefs.

The specific details and numbers of executions mentioned above is not accurate because of propaganda reasons, The Spanish did not kept records of those who executed. however the impacts on indigenous populations, the events spread in the maya society, there are writings of both spanish and maya origins varied widely depending on specific circumstances, geographic locations, and historical periods, that combined together gives a number of 10 to maybe 12 million dead maya people and the number goes into 12,6 or 12,7 million with the deaths of the spanish conquistadors.

The Maya Civilization was ended and the Spanish Empire continued its impact on indigenous populations in the Americas.