MAYAS

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 elaborate 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.