The Mayans

Who Were They?

Mayans- they were one of the first civilizations that ever existed. They were known as the Meso-American civilization. This was only one of a number of civilizations which evolved in the Americas before the arrival of Columbus, but it was one which reached the greatest height.

The civilization developed in south-eastern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, western portions of Honduras, El Salvador, northern lowlands of Yucatan Peninsula, highlands of Sierra Madre and the Mexican state of Chipas.

They built territories in these places around 2000 BC.

Teĉhnology

Architecture

The Mayan people lived in round huts with a central wooden pole supporting a conical thatched roof. The walls were woven reeds with no windows.

Set apart was a ceremonial area, containing the famous massive stone structures which archaeologists have uncovered. From their size it has been concluded that the leading Mayan city states had populations of 8000-10,000.

A typical site consisted of one or more plazas (squares) surrounded by pyramids and stelae (inscribed pillars). On top of the pyramids were temples. Pyramids were a base of rubble faced with limestone blocks. Temples were made with thick masonry walls and corbelled-arch roofs.

Arts and Crafts

The Maya did not have metal tools. Wooden hoes and fire- hardened wooden ploughs were used on fields and even limestone blocks were cut without metal. Women wore boldly patterned cotton clothes, and headdresses made from the feathers of the Quetzal bird were high prized.

Their craftsmen fashioned lifelike and symbolic figurines in jade, wood, copper and gold. One of their favourite objects was