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? ?? ?The Maya, probably the oldest and most advanced Native American society could trace its history back to 1000BC and was most likely considerably older. Reaching its golden age about 250AD this society based in some of the most inhospitable territory in the world created an empire covering some 125,000 square miles in what is today the entire Yucatan Peninsula, parts of the Mexican regions of Tobascoand Chiapas, all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western parts of Honduras and El Salvadore. At its peak there may have been between 10 and 20 million inhabitants of the empire (compare this to the 43 million of the entire area of China during the T'ang dynasty or with the 56 million who currently inhabit the British Isles). ? ? ? ?The Maya learnt early the value of trade; traffic in goods with other South American and Caribbean societies was commonplace. It was with one of the Mayan trade boats that Columbus made contact with in 1502. In 1517 three Spanish ships in search of slaves stopped on one island where they looted temples. Attacked by masses of warriors (which they beat off with the ship's guns) they returned to their base in Cuba with masses of ornaments made of cheap gold. There was obviously great treasure to be gained for the Spanish Crown on the mainland. The conquest was to begin. ? ? ? By the time of the Spanish arrival however the Mayan civilisation had been in decline for some time, probably as a result of warfare and overpopulation. Spanish arms coupled with European diseases such as measles, smallpox and influenza against which the natives had no immunity took the lives of millions of the Maya over this period. ? ? ? The European invaders were also intent on destroying the Indian's religion. Temples were torn down, Friars tortured and killed suspected idolaters; Whipping, Pulling limbs apart on the rack, and boiling in scolding water being particularly nasty ways of converting the 'pagans'. The leading Friar, Diego de Landa however did take the time to learn and write down some of the Indian's culture and also to begin to decipher the Mayan hieroglyphics, and from this and later research we have learnt a lot about this lost civilization.
By the time of the Spanish arrival however the Mayan civilisation had been in decline for some time, probably as a result of warfare and overpopulation. Spanish arms coupled with European diseases such as measles, smallpox and influenza against which the natives had no immunity took the lives of millions of the Maya over this period.
I wonder where this criticism of "overpopulation" originated. It seems that a civilization such as the Maya - a largely jungle/tropical peoples - would have not had such a problem in any concept of the word. If their population outpaced their food production (probably not likely given their likely average lifetime and their loss of population due to wars), then it would seem more likely that these "extra" people would simply have died. If their population increased to the point of requiring more resources, it would seem more likely for them to conquer neighboring cities or regions to expand their empire.
I think we will all get a taste of what the Mayan empire was like when Apocolypto finally comes out pretty soon. It's supposed to be a very good movie. The press is saying that it's excessively gory, though they said the same about The Passion of the Christ and I didn't think that was the case.
Actually Phid it is out this week. I hope to go see it this weekend. As for the gore that was Mayen society. At least with the human sacrifices. I dont know what else Mel has added, but I think it will be as realistic and as close to history as he could get.
Check the book by Mann; 1491. Up to date work that looks at all the pre-Columbian issues.I'm currently about 1/2 way through it. Well worth your time and very thought provoking.Wally
I think it helps to keep in mind that while the Mayan empire died off as an empire, it left behind many survivors, including present day inhabitants of the region. Even in Oklahoma City, one of my classmates in conversational Spanish was a Belizean whose family name ended in -maya. I lived among Tzotzil Mayas intermittently, 199-2001. They still have numerous sub tribes with distinct dialects, including Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Mam, Chol, Quiche, etc. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Rigoberta Menchu, is Quiche.Some tradicionalistas still practice an evolved form of the Mayan religion, and keep the ancient calendar.
