The Rise And Fall Of The Mayans
Rise and Fall of the Maya: Research Paper
The Maya were a native Mesoamerican group of people who erected one of the most sophisticated cultures in the Western Hemisphere. They inhabited areas in southern Mexico, and also surrounding Locations included Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and parts of Honduras. The Maya religion civilization came into prominence in 250 A.D., administering a polytheistic approach to worship which included human blood sacrifices to honor their gods or to culminate the crowning of a King. Historians record that the Mayan civilization abruptly and mysteriously abandoned their cities between 900 and 925 A.D.; this also marks the end of the classic period in Maya history. In this Annotated Bibliography, I will analyze …show more content…
From an historical standpoint, the religion of the Maya during the Classic Period was been seen as a faith centered on a “pantheon of anthropomorphized gods.” Archaeological findings of Maya iconographic artifacts depict many gods as various animals particularly jaguars, and they are seen supernatural beings. The divine power and authority possessed by Maya’s sacred gods was ordained by the mana they possess. The Maya equivalent to a supreme being was known as Heart of Sky which is in chronicled in the creation story of the Maya. In Mayan religion, Heart of Sky had created many of the things regarded as sacred such as the sun, the moon, lightning, and caves. Everything in nature that was alive or inanimate was considered to be sacred by the Maya. Religious ceremonies conducted by the Maya lords and priesthood were held in various types of permanent temples. The Maya religions priesthood was the only ones within the society to obtain the knowledge to decipher hieroglyphic writing and was in control of the knowledge and timing of festivals constituted by the 260-day calendar. Hierarchy of Maya priesthood served as advisors to the ruling class, and also received offerings from them as well. Aside from the fact the Maya preformed blood sacrifice of both humans and animals to appease the gods for what they have …show more content…
Evidence suggests that despite the fact there is a definitive reason that led towards the collapse, the recent to suggest that the decline began around 810 A.D. Further evidence records the exile of locals in the southern low land areas increased by 900 A.D. In southern lowland areas leading up to this period of evidence shows eight “general decline and ceramics and other manufacturers; many of the ceremonial centers were completely abandoned.” reasons for the Maya will abandoned cities could be caused from instability within the agricultural system. Evidence suggests there was a lack of nutrition among Mayan civilians despite their plant-based diet.. Of basic Mayans plant-based diet wasn’t probably supplemented with “nutrients and amino acids necessary for a well-balanced diet” The erosion and degeneration of Mayan landscapes made farming a futile task. By viability of Mayan agriculture suffered due to land surfaces that are “a solid after several years of monoclonal, and erosion is removing what little soil is less,” consequently the forest would reemerge after. In regards to the Maya civilizations collapse, the Spanish conquest is viewed as factor as well. The ancient Maya religion that didn’t involve blood sacrifice was deemed as “hedonism” by the Spaniards, and quickly of their mission was to convert the Mayans to Christianity. During this process all written record of ancient
The Maya were a native Mesoamerican group of people who erected one of the most sophisticated cultures in the Western Hemisphere. They inhabited areas in southern Mexico, and also surrounding Locations included Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and parts of Honduras. The Maya religion civilization came into prominence in 250 A.D., administering a polytheistic approach to worship which included human blood sacrifices to honor their gods or to culminate the crowning of a King. Historians record that the Mayan civilization abruptly and mysteriously abandoned their cities between 900 and 925 A.D.; this also marks the end of the classic period in Maya history. In this Annotated Bibliography, I will analyze …show more content…
From an historical standpoint, the religion of the Maya during the Classic Period was been seen as a faith centered on a “pantheon of anthropomorphized gods.” Archaeological findings of Maya iconographic artifacts depict many gods as various animals particularly jaguars, and they are seen supernatural beings. The divine power and authority possessed by Maya’s sacred gods was ordained by the mana they possess. The Maya equivalent to a supreme being was known as Heart of Sky which is in chronicled in the creation story of the Maya. In Mayan religion, Heart of Sky had created many of the things regarded as sacred such as the sun, the moon, lightning, and caves. Everything in nature that was alive or inanimate was considered to be sacred by the Maya. Religious ceremonies conducted by the Maya lords and priesthood were held in various types of permanent temples. The Maya religions priesthood was the only ones within the society to obtain the knowledge to decipher hieroglyphic writing and was in control of the knowledge and timing of festivals constituted by the 260-day calendar. Hierarchy of Maya priesthood served as advisors to the ruling class, and also received offerings from them as well. Aside from the fact the Maya preformed blood sacrifice of both humans and animals to appease the gods for what they have …show more content…
Evidence suggests that despite the fact there is a definitive reason that led towards the collapse, the recent to suggest that the decline began around 810 A.D. Further evidence records the exile of locals in the southern low land areas increased by 900 A.D. In southern lowland areas leading up to this period of evidence shows eight “general decline and ceramics and other manufacturers; many of the ceremonial centers were completely abandoned.” reasons for the Maya will abandoned cities could be caused from instability within the agricultural system. Evidence suggests there was a lack of nutrition among Mayan civilians despite their plant-based diet.. Of basic Mayans plant-based diet wasn’t probably supplemented with “nutrients and amino acids necessary for a well-balanced diet” The erosion and degeneration of Mayan landscapes made farming a futile task. By viability of Mayan agriculture suffered due to land surfaces that are “a solid after several years of monoclonal, and erosion is removing what little soil is less,” consequently the forest would reemerge after. In regards to the Maya civilizations collapse, the Spanish conquest is viewed as factor as well. The ancient Maya religion that didn’t involve blood sacrifice was deemed as “hedonism” by the Spaniards, and quickly of their mission was to convert the Mayans to Christianity. During this process all written record of ancient