Mayan culture

The Maya civilization inhabited a large part of the region known as Mesoamerica , in the current territories of Guatemala , Belize, Honduras , El Salvador and in the range of five southeastern states of Mexico : Campeche , Chiapas , Quintana Roo , Tabasco and Yucatan , with a history of about 3000 years .

During this long time, in that territory hundreds of dialects generate about 44 different Mayan languages ​​are spoken today. Speaking of the "ancient Maya" is referring to the history of one of the most important pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, as its scientific and astronomical legacy is worldwide. Contrary to a widespread belief, the Mayan civilization never "disappeared”. At least, not entirely, as their descendants still live in the region and many of them speak any of the languages ​​of the Mayan family.

The Mayan literature illustrates the life of this culture. Works as the Rabinal Achi , the Popol Vuh , the various books of Chilam Balam , are proof of that . What it was destroyed by the conquest is the model of civilization until the arrival of the first Spaniards, had generated three millennia of history.

The Spanish conquest of the Maya was not consummated until 1697, with taking Tayasal , capital of the Itza Maya and Zacpetén , capital Ko'woj Maya in the Peten ( Guatemala current ) . The last Maya state disappeared when the Mexican government of Porfirio Diaz in 1901 occupied its capital, Chan Santa Cruz, thus ending the so-called Caste War.

The Maya did great and impressive buildings from the Middle Preclassic and cities as Nakbé , El Mirador , San Bartolo , Cival , located in the Mirador Basin , Northern Petén , and during the Preclassic , known cities of Tikal, Quirigua ( both the first to be declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 and 1981 respectively) , Palenque , Copán, Río Azul , Calakmul , Comalcalco (built of baked brick ) and Ceibal , Cancuén , Machaquilá , Dos Pilas , Uaxactún , Altun Ha, Piedras Negras and many other sites in the area. It can be classified as an empire, but it is unknown if the time of colonization imposed their culture or it was a result of his organization in independent city-states were the basis of agriculture and trade. The most notable monuments are the pyramids they built in their religious centers, together with the palaces of their rulers  (government and places of residence of the nobles) , the largest found so far Cancuén in southern Peten , many of whose structures were decorated with murals and stucco ornaments . Other important archaeological remains include stone slabs carved usually called stelae (the Maya called them Tetum, ' three stones ' ) , showing portraits of the rulers with logographic texts describing their genealogy , enthronements , military victories , and other accomplishments . The Mayan pottery is ranked as one of the most varied, fine and elaborates the ancient world.

The Maya participated in long distance trade in Mesoamerica and possibly beyond. Among the trade goods were jade, cacao, corn , salt, and obsidian.