The Maya make up the largest homogenous group of Indians north of Peru, inhabiting a vast area that encompasses Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and parts of the states of Tabasco and Chiapas, as well as Guatemala, Belize and parts of western Honduras and El Salvador.

The Maya make up the largest homogenous group of Indians north of Peru, inhabiting a vast area that encompasses Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and parts of the states of Tabasco and Chiapas, as well as Guatemala, Belize and parts of western Honduras and El Salvador.

While not the earliest of the great Mesoamerican civilizations, the Maya are generally considered the most brilliant of all the Classic groups. The culture’s beginnings have been traced back to 1500 BC, entering the Classic period about 300 AD and flourishing between 600 and 900 AD.
Mayan settlements were situated close to cenotes, natural water holes that allowed for survival in an inhospitable tropical climate. The basis of the culture was farming, which included not only the cultivation of maize, beans, squash, and chili peppers, but also “cash crops” of cotton and cacao.
For the Maya, science and religion went hand in hand, forming the core of daily life. A baptismal rite was commonly practiced for children who survived infancy. To secure the favor of their gods, each year was marked by a series of festivals that included ritual offerings, sacrifices and the imbibing of an intoxicating mead called balche. Among the most revered deities were Itzamna and Ix Chel, father and mother of all other gods, and the rain god Chac. Kukulcan was the Mayan name for the feathered serpent, god of the ruling caste.

The Maya’s highly complex pantheon and multi-faceted cosmology continue to fascinate and perplex archaeologists and other students of the culture. Ancient Mayan people did not routinely indulge in human sacrifice and ritual decapitation as is commonly believed. And the evidence comes from an unlikely source - the burial practices of the medieval monarchs of Europe.
The Mayans built a stunning dynasty that dominated Meso-America from AD 250 to 1200. They were ruled by nobles and kings under a hierarchical system of government. When scores of incomplete skeletons were uncovered from the graves of wealthy Mayans, archaeologists interpreted the missing bones as proof of dismemberment during ritual sacrifices.

In building their ceremonial centers the Maya followed the design typical of all Mesoamerica, constructing tall pyramidal temples, warren-like single story palaces and the ubiquitous ball court around a broad central plaza. Distinctive architectural features of Mayan pyramids include corbel vaults, towering roofs and elaborate embellishment with stucco reliefs.

Music And Dance
The Mayas loved music and dance. They had over 5,000 dances. Dancing was a huge part of religious ceremonies. Musicians played wooden flutes and trumpets made from wood, seashells, or clay, and drums made from turtle shells.

Food
It is known that the Mayas enjoyed chocolate. They had it in many forms from a frothy drink to a pulpy mush.The Mayas referred to chocolate as “The Drink of the Gods.” They had other food such as cornmeal, maize, black beans, roasted meat, rabbit stew, turkey and meat.

Jewelry
The Mayas wore many different forms of jewelry. The most common was jade. Jade was worn in beads, earrings, and ear spools. Jade was also one of the materials that the Mayas traded. The Mayas also wore gold.

Insufficient food supply, earthquakes, pestilence, invasion by outsiders, internal rebellion or a combination of these factors have all been suggested as possible causes for the fall of the Mayan eminence. What appears certain is that by 900 AD the Maya’s numerous ceremonial centers had been abandoned. Swiftly disappearing beneath dense jungle growth, many sites avoided destruction by Spanish Conquistadors, remaining hidden and remarkably well preserved until the 19th century.

Tag: Some Words For A Lost Civilization