Where are the Mayan civilization located? Mayan life. The history of discoveries and mysteries of Mexico

When the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernandez de Cordoba arrived on the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America at the beginning of the 16th century, they met here with the legendary Mayan Indians. At that time, their civilization was already in serious decline and crisis. But it was not always so...

Pre-classical and classical period

It is believed that the history of the Mayan civilization began in the third millennium BC. e. Traditionally, scientists distinguish the pre-classical, classical and post-classical periods of its development.

In the preclassic period (that is, until about 250 AD), the first city-states appeared in Yucatan, the technologies of shifting agriculture, technologies for creating fabrics, tools, tools, etc. were mastered. As examples of large cities of the preclassic period, it is worth mentioning Nakbe and El Mirador. It was in El Mirador that the largest Mayan pyramid was discovered. Its height was 72 meters.

As for writing, it appeared among the Mayans around 700 BC. e. In general, these people had one of the most advanced writing systems. The Mayans left inscriptions everywhere, including on the walls of their buildings. These inscriptions later helped shed light on many aspects of their lives.

In the classical period, the Mayan civilization consisted of many large and busy cities, and each of them was ruled by its own ruler. Mayan culture at this time spread to the entire Yucatan Peninsula. Also at this time, new magnificent cities arose - Coba, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, etc.

During the heyday, acropolises were erected in Mayan cities - ceremonial complexes tens of meters high, including pyramids, palaces and other objects. And at the very top of the acropolises, small square temples without windows were necessarily built. In some cities there were also observatories - towers with places for observing other planets and stars.

Cities, temples and large cultivated areas were connected by roads, the so-called sakbe. Sakbe was made of crushed stone, pebbles and limestone - that is, these were not just country roads, but something much more advanced and perfect.

Areas in which the Mayans achieved significant success

The Mayans managed to create a truly unique civilization. They did not know the wheel and did not know how to work iron. These Indians also did not succeed in the production of weapons. Over the course of many centuries, their weapon designs did not change much (and this is probably one of the reasons why the Europeans ended up being stronger). But this did not stop the Mayans from understanding mathematics, geometry and astronomy well, and building high pyramids and temples. A significant element of all the buildings was the “Mayan vault” - an original arched narrowing of the roof, not found almost anywhere else.

The ancient Mayans also knew how to make complex hydraulic irrigation systems. Thanks to this, on soils that were quite difficult from the point of view of agriculture, they grew useful crops.

Medicine among the ancient Mayans was also well developed. They treated people by people who had undergone certain training. Local healers accurately identified many ailments (including asthma, tuberculosis, ulcers, etc.) and fought them through inhalations and potions prepared from natural ingredients of medicines.

The Mayans knew human anatomy in detail, and therefore local doctors were able to perform complex operations. The affected areas of the body or areas where the tumor developed were removed with knives, the wounds were stitched with a needle and hair, and substances with a narcotic effect were used for anesthesia.

Mayan doctors had tools made of volcanic glass and stones at their disposal. By the way, not only medical, but also many other instruments and devices were created by the Mayans from these materials. And some of them, according to modern scientists, were even more perfect than their European metal counterparts.

Mayan art during the classical period also amazed with its complexity, sophistication and grace. It found its expression in bas-reliefs, wall paintings, ceramics, and sculptures. The works of art left by the Mayans are distinguished by their affinity for mythological themes and complex grotesque images. Key motifs include anthropomorphic deities, snakes and expressive masks.

Calendar and Mayan counting system

The calendar created by the Mayans is worthy of a separate discussion - it was indeed very intricate and long. The year, according to this calendar, was divided into eighteen months of twenty days. However, the Mayans did not have such concepts as “beginning of the year” or “end of the year” - the Indians simply calculated the cycles and rhythms of planetary movement. Time for the Mayans moved in a circle, everything was repeated again and again. This amazingly accurate calendar also contained detailed information about the movements of celestial bodies.

And one more fun fact related to the Mayan calendar. One day, scientists in southeastern Mexico found a stele left over from the ancient Indians. According to the inscriptions on this stela, the Mayan calendar ended on December 21, 2012. For some reason, many began to consider this date as the date of the end of the world. In the end, everything turned out to be a farce - nothing special happened on either December 21 or 22, 2012.

The fact that the Mayan year was divided into months of 20 days is not accidental. The local counting system was 20-digit. Since ancient times, the Indians of Central America (Mesoamerica) used their fingers and toes simultaneously when counting. Each twenty was further divided into fives, which corresponds to the number of fingers.

For the convenience of calculations, the Mayans even introduced the designation zero. It was represented as a hollow snail shell (infinity was also expressed with the same symbol). Zero is really needed in many mathematical calculations, however, for example, in ancient Greece this number was not used - they simply did not think of it.

Sacrifice and other cruel Mayan customs

The ancient Mayans were indeed very active in the practice of human sacrifice - this is one of the most well-known facts about this Indian civilization. People were sacrificed in truly barbaric ways, including by tearing out the heart from the chest and by burying them alive.

It was believed that the person who was chosen as a victim was given the highest honor - he received the status of a messenger to the deities. Mathematicians and astronomers made special calculations to find out when the best time would come to make a sacrifice and who would be best suited for this role. In this regard, the victims were often their own fellow tribesmen, and not the Aztecs or Olmecs.

In the polytheistic Mayan religion, gods were considered mortal entities. And this is proven by the images of child gods and old gods left by the Indians. And we can conclude that the sacrifices were intended to further extend the life of this or that god.

The Mayans also believed that a person must go through thirteen rounds of trials before getting to heaven. This path was considered very difficult; it was believed that not all souls were able to complete it to the end. However, women who died during childbirth, warriors who died in battle, and ritual victims, according to the beliefs of the ancient Mayans, went to the gods immediately, bypassing all circles.

It was also believed that those who lost in a kind of ball game ended up in a better world without unnecessary trials. This sports game was a mixture of rugby, football and basketball. It was played by men wearing helmets and wearing protection on their elbows and knees. The goal of the game was extremely simple - it was necessary to throw a rubber ball into a hoop located at a height of six meters. The ball could only be touched with the shoulders, hips and feet. The entire losing team or several of its members were killed at the end of the game.

Postclassical period

Around 850 AD. e. The Mayans began to abandon their majestic cities, one after another, and the reasons for this phenomenon are still not clear. Complex buildings and water supply systems began to fall into disrepair. After some time, the Mayans basically stopped building new tall buildings, holding ceremonies and practicing astronomy.

In less than two centuries the greatness of civilization had largely faded away. Some prosperous settlements remained, but the Mayans were never destined to regain their former greatness. Thus, civilization entered its postclassical period (987 - end of the 16th century). This time was marked by the adoption of harsh new laws, new styles of art, a mixing of cultures, internecine wars and eventually the arrival of the conquistadors.

Reasons for the decline of civilization

Researchers are still arguing about the reasons why the Mayan civilization degenerated so quickly. All hypotheses regarding the actual disappearance of the Mayan civilization are divided into two groups - ecological and non-ecological.

Ecological hypotheses are based on the following premise: the Mayans upset the balance with the natural environment in which they lived. That is, the rapidly growing population was faced with a shortage of high-quality soils suitable for agriculture, as well as drought and a shortage of drinking water.

There are scientists who very actively defend the version of a terrible drought that forced the Mayans to leave the cities (in particular, geologist Gerald Haug). And at the beginning of 2012, scientists from the University of Southampton published the results of their meticulous research, which also confirms this version. According to these studies, the shortage of fresh water in the Yucatan could become noticeable with a decrease in precipitation levels of 40 percent (and such a decrease probably occurred between 810 and 950 AD). This anomaly led to the fact that there was not enough drinking water, the usual way of life of the Mayans began to collapse and they left their cities en masse.

Non-ecological hypotheses are hypotheses about internecine wars, conquests by other Indian tribes, epidemics, and certain social catastrophes. And, for example, the version of the Mayan conquest is confirmed by some archaeological finds in Yucatan. More specifically, artifacts were found in Mayan settlements that belonged to the Toltecs, another people of Mesoamerica. However, when the Spaniards arrived in Yucatan in 1517, the Mayans were already living primarily in agricultural communities.

The conquistadors arrived with bad intentions, and on top of that, they brought diseases from the Old World to America that were previously unknown to the Mayans (for example, smallpox and measles). And as a result, by the end of the 17th century, the Mayans suffered complete defeat - the last free Mayan city of Tayasal fell in 1697.

Documentary film from the History Channel “Mysteries of the Mayans. Secrets of antiquity."

Habitat.

During the 1st – beginning of the 2nd millennium. The Maya people, speaking various languages ​​of the Maya-Kiche family, settled over a wide area including the southern states of Mexico (Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo), the present-day countries of Belize and Guatemala, and the western regions of El Salvador and Honduras.

These areas, located in the tropical zone, are distinguished by a variety of landscapes. In the mountainous south there is a chain of volcanoes, some of which are active. Once upon a time, powerful coniferous forests grew here on generous volcanic soils. In the north, the volcanoes give way to the limestone Alta Verapaz Mountains, which further north form the Petén limestone plateau, characterized by a hot and humid climate. Here the center of development of the Mayan civilization of the classical era was formed.

The western part of the Petén plateau is drained by the Pasion and Usumacinta rivers, which flow into the Gulf of Mexico, and the eastern part by rivers carrying water to the Caribbean Sea. North of the Petén plateau, humidity decreases with the height of forest cover. In the northern Yucatecan Plains, tropical rainforests give way to shrubby vegetation, and in the Puuc Hills the climate is so arid that in ancient times people settled here along the shores of karst lakes (cenotes) or stored water in underground reservoirs (chultun). On the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, the ancient Mayans mined salt and traded it with the inhabitants of the interior regions.

Early ideas about the ancient Maya.

It was initially believed that the Maya lived in large areas of tropical lowlands in small groups, practicing slash-and-burn agriculture. With the rapid depletion of soils, this forced them to frequently change their settlement sites. The Mayans were peaceful and had a special interest in astronomy, and their cities with tall pyramids and stone buildings also served as priestly ceremonial centers where people gathered to observe unusual celestial phenomena.

According to modern estimates, the ancient Mayan people numbered more than 3 million people. In the distant past, their country was the most densely populated tropical zone. The Mayans knew how to maintain soil fertility for several centuries and transform lands unsuitable for agriculture into plantations where they grew maize, beans, pumpkins, cotton, cocoa and various tropical fruits. Mayan writing was based on a strict phonetic and syntactic system. The decipherment of ancient hieroglyphic inscriptions has refuted previous ideas about the peaceful nature of the Mayans: many of these inscriptions report wars between city-states and captives sacrificed to the gods. The only thing that has not been revised from previous ideas is the exceptional interest of the ancient Mayans in the movement of celestial bodies. Their astronomers very accurately calculated the cycles of movement of the Sun, Moon, Venus and some constellations (in particular, the Milky Way). The Mayan civilization, in its characteristics, reveals commonality with the nearest ancient civilizations of the Mexican Highlands, as well as with the distant Mesopotamian, ancient Greek and ancient Chinese civilizations.

Periodization of Mayan history.

During the Archaic (2000–1500 BC) and Early Formative periods (1500–1000 BC) of the Preclassic era, the lowlands of Guatemala were inhabited by small, semi-wandering tribes of hunters and gatherers who subsisted on wild edible roots and fruits, as well as game and fish. They left behind only rare stone tools and a few settlements that definitely date back to this time. The Middle Formative Period (1000–400 BC) is the first relatively well-documented era of Mayan history. At this time, small agricultural settlements appeared, scattered in the jungle and along the banks of the rivers of the Peten plateau and in the north of Belize (Cuelho, Colha, Kashob). Archaeological evidence suggests that in this era the Mayans did not have pompous architecture, class divisions or centralized power.

However, during the subsequent Late Formative Period of the Preclassic era (400 BC - 250 AD), major changes occurred in Mayan life. At this time, monumental structures were built - stylobotes, pyramids, ball courts, and rapid growth of cities was observed. Impressive architectural complexes are being built in cities such as Calakmul and Zibilchaltun in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), El Mirador, Yashactun, Tikal, Nakbe and Tintal in the jungle of Peten (Guatemala), Cerros, Cuello, Lamanay and Nomul (Belize), Chalchuapa (Salvador). There was a rapid growth of settlements that arose during this period, such as Kashob in northern Belize. At the end of the late formative period, barter trade developed between settlements remote from each other. The most prized items are items made from jade and obsidian, sea shells and quetzal bird feathers.

At this time, sharp flint tools and the so-called appeared for the first time. eccentrics are stone products of the most bizarre shape, sometimes in the form of a trident or the profile of a human face. At the same time, the practice of consecrating buildings and arranging hiding places where jade products and other valuables were placed was developed.

During the subsequent Early Classic period (250–600 CE) of the Classical era, Maya society developed into a system of rival city-states, each with its own royal dynasty. These political entities showed commonality both in the system of government and in culture (language, writing, astronomical knowledge, calendar, etc.). The beginning of the Early Classic period approximately coincides with one of the oldest dates recorded on the stele of the city of Tikal - 292 AD, which, in accordance with the so-called. The “long count of the Maya” is expressed in numbers 8.12.14.8.5.

The possessions of individual city-states of the classical era extended on average 2000 square meters. km, and some cities, such as Tikal or Calakmul, controlled significantly larger territories. The political and cultural centers of each state were cities with magnificent buildings, the architecture of which represented local or zonal variations of the general style of Mayan architecture. The buildings were located around a vast rectangular central square. Their facades were usually decorated with masks of the main gods and mythological characters, carved from stone or made using the technique of piece relief. The walls of long narrow rooms inside buildings were often painted with frescoes depicting rituals, holidays, and military scenes. Window lintels, lintels, palace staircases, as well as free-standing steles were covered with hieroglyphic texts, sometimes interspersed with portraits, telling about the deeds of the rulers. On lintel 26 at Yaxchilan, the wife of the ruler, Shield of the Jaguar, is depicted helping her husband put on military regalia.

In the centers of Mayan cities of the classical era, pyramids rose up to 15 m high. These structures often served as tombs for revered people, so kings and priests practiced rituals here with the goal of establishing a magical connection with the spirits of their ancestors.

The burial of Pakal, the ruler of Palenque, discovered in the “Temple of the Inscriptions”, provided a lot of valuable information about the practice of honoring the royal ancestors. The inscription on the lid of the sarcophagus says that Pacal was born (according to our chronology) in 603 and died in 683. The deceased was decorated with a jade necklace, massive earrings (a sign of military valor), bracelets, and a mosaic mask made of more than 200 pieces of jade. Pakal was buried in a stone sarcophagus, on which were carved the names and portraits of his illustrious ancestors, such as his great-grandmother Kan-Ik, who had considerable power. Vessels, apparently containing food and drinks, were usually placed in burials, intended to nourish the deceased on his way to the afterlife.

In Mayan cities, the central part stands out, where the rulers lived with their relatives and retinue. These are the palace complex in Palenque, the acropolis of Tikal, and the Sepulturas zone in Copan. The rulers and their closest relatives were exclusively engaged in state affairs - they organized and led military raids against neighboring city-states, organized magnificent festivities, and took part in rituals. Members of the royal family also became scribes, priests, soothsayers, artists, sculptors and architects. Thus, scribes of the highest rank lived in the House of Bakabs in Copan.

Outside the cities, the population was dispersed in small villages surrounded by gardens and fields. People lived in large families in wooden houses covered with reeds or thatch. One of these classical-era villages survives in Serena (El Salvador), where the Laguna Caldera volcano allegedly erupted in the summer of 590. Hot ash covered nearby houses, a kitchen fireplace and a wall niche with painted plates and pumpkin bottles, plants, trees, fields, including a field with corn sprouts. In many ancient settlements, buildings are grouped around a central courtyard, where joint work was carried out. Land ownership was communal in nature.

In the Late Classic Period (650–950), the population of the lowlands of Guatemala reached 3 million people. Increased demands for agricultural products forced farmers to drain swamps and use terrace farming in hilly areas, such as along the banks of the Rio Bec.

In the late classical period, new cities began to emerge from the established city-states. Thus, the city of Himbal left the control of Tikal, which was announced in the language of hieroglyphs on architectural structures. During the period under review, Mayan epigraphy reached the peak of its development, but the content of the inscriptions on the monuments changed. If earlier messages about the life path of rulers with dates of birth, marriage, accession to the throne, and death prevailed, now the main attention is paid to wars, conquests, and the capture of captives for sacrifices.

By 850 many cities in the south of the lowland zone had been abandoned. Construction stops completely in Palenque, Tikal, and Copan. The reasons for what happened are still unclear. The decline of these cities could be caused by uprisings, enemy invasion, epidemic or environmental crisis. The center of development of the Mayan civilization moves to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula and the western highlands - areas that received several waves of Mexican cultural influences. Here the cities of Uxmal, Sayil, Kabah, Labna and Chichen Itza flourish for a short time. These magnificent cities surpassed the previous ones with tall buildings, multi-room palaces, higher and wider stepped vaults, sophisticated stone carvings and mosaic friezes, and huge ball courts.

Mayan ball game.

The prototype of this game with a rubber ball, which requires great dexterity, arose in Mesoamerica as early as two thousand years BC. The Mayan ball game, like similar games of other peoples of Mesoamerica, contained elements of violence and cruelty - it ended with human sacrifice, for which it was started, and the playing fields were framed with stakes with human skulls. Only men participated in the game, divided into two teams, which included from one to four people. The players' task was to prevent the ball from touching the ground and to bring it to the goal, holding it with all parts of the body, with the exception of the hands and feet. The players wore special protective clothing. The ball was more often hollow; sometimes a human skull was hidden behind the rubber shell.

The ball courts consisted of two parallel stepped stands, between which there was a playing field, like a wide paved alley. Such stadiums were built in every city, and in El Tajin there were eleven of them. Apparently, there was a sports and ceremonial center here, where large-scale competitions were held.

The ball game was somewhat reminiscent of gladiator fights, when prisoners, sometimes representatives of the nobility from other cities, fought for their lives so as not to be sacrificed. The losers, tied together, were rolled down the stairs of the pyramids and fell to their deaths.

The last cities of the Maya.

Most northern cities built in the Postclassic era (950–1500) lasted less than 300 years, with the exception of Chichen Itza, which survived until the 13th century. This city shows architectural similarities with Tula, founded by the Toltecs ca. 900, suggesting that Chichen Itza served as an outpost or was an ally of the warlike Toltecs. The name of the city is derived from the Mayan words “chi” (“mouth”) and “itsa” (“wall”), but its architecture is so-called. Puuc style violates classical Mayan canons. For example, stone roofs of buildings are supported on flat beams rather than on stepped vaults. Some stone carvings depict Mayan and Toltec warriors together in battle scenes. Perhaps the Toltecs captured this city and over time turned it into a prosperous state. During the Postclassic period (1200–1450), Chichen Itza was for a time part of a political alliance with nearby Uxmal and Mayapan known as the League of Mayapan. However, even before the arrival of the Spaniards, the League had collapsed, and Chichen Itza, like the cities of the classical era, was swallowed up by the jungle.

In the Postclassic era, maritime trade developed, thanks to which ports emerged on the coast of Yucatan and nearby islands, for example, Tulum or a settlement on the island of Cozumel. During the Late Postclassic period, the Mayans traded slaves, cotton, and bird feathers with the Aztecs.

Ancient Mayan calendar.

According to Mayan mythology, the world was created and destroyed twice before the third, modern era began, which began in European terms on August 13, 3114 BC. From this date, time was counted in two chronology systems - the so-called. long count and calendar circle. The long count was based on a 360-day annual cycle called tun, divided into 18 months of 20 days each. The Mayans used a base-20 rather than a decimal counting system, and the unit of chronology was 20 years (katun). Twenty katuns (i.e. four centuries) made up a baktun. The Mayans simultaneously used two calendar time systems - a 260-day and a 365-day annual cycle. These systems coincided every 18,980 days, or every 52 (365-day) years, marking an important milestone at the end of one and the beginning of a new time cycle. The ancient Mayans calculated time forward to 4772, when, in their opinion, the end of the current era would come and the Universe would once again be destroyed.

Mayan customs and social organization.

Rite of bloodletting.

The families of the rulers were entrusted with the obligation to perform the rite of bloodletting at every important event in the life of the city-states - be it the consecration of new buildings, the onset of the sowing season, the beginning or end of a military campaign. According to Mayan mythology, human blood nourished and strengthened the gods, who, in turn, gave strength to people. It was believed that the blood of the tongue, earlobes and genitals had the greatest magical power.

During the bloodletting ceremony, thousands of people gathered in the central square of the city, including dancers, musicians, warriors and nobles. At the climax of the ceremonial action, the ruler appeared, often with his wife, and with a plant thorn or an obsidian knife he bled himself, making a cut on the penis. At the same time, the ruler's wife pierced her tongue. After this, they passed a rough agave rope through the wounds to increase the bleeding. Blood dripped onto strips of paper, which were then burned in the fire. Due to blood loss, as well as under the influence of drugs, fasting and other factors, ritual participants saw images of gods and ancestors in puffs of smoke.

Social organization.

Mayan society was built on the model of patriarchy: power and leadership in the family passed from father to son or brother. Classic Maya society was highly stratified. A clear division into social strata was observed in Tikal in the 8th century. At the very top of the social ladder were the ruler and his closest relatives, then came the highest and middle hereditary nobility, who had varying degrees of power, followed by retinues, artisans, architects of various ranks and status, below were rich but humble landowners, then simple farmers - community members, and on the last steps there were orphans and slaves. Although these groups were in contact with each other, they lived in separate city neighborhoods, had special duties and privileges, and cultivated their own customs.

The ancient Mayans did not know the technology of metal smelting. They made tools mainly from stone, but also from wood and shells. With these tools, farmers cut down forests, plowed, sowed, and harvested crops. The Mayans did not even know the potter's wheel. When making ceramic products, they rolled clay into thin flagella and placed them one on top of the other or molded clay plates. Ceramics were fired not in kilns, but on open fires. Both commoners and aristocrats were engaged in pottery. The latter painted vessels with scenes from mythology or palace life.

Writing and visual arts.

The Spanish Franciscan bishop Diego de Landa (1524–1579), who arrived in Yucatan in 1549, worked with a Mayan scribe on a system for transmitting hieroglyphs in the Latin alphabet when translating the catechism. However, ancient Maya writing differed from alphabetic writing because individual characters often represented a syllable rather than a phoneme. As a result of discrepancies between the artificial alphabet of Landa and the Mayan script, the latter was considered indecipherable. It is now known that Mayan scribes freely combined phonetic and semantic signs, especially when such combinations opened up possibilities for wordplay.

The scribes who formed the intellectual elite of Mayan society produced hundreds of manuscripts. They wrote with bird feathers on sheets of paper made from tree bark, which were folded like an accordion under bindings covered with jaguar skin. Catholic missionaries considered these books heretical and set them on fire. Only four Mayan manuscripts survive, known as the Madrid, Paris, Dresden and Grolier codices. The Dresden Codex contains a section containing something like a farmer's calendar, where predictions are given for the coming year and the sacrifices necessary to obtain a good harvest are indicated. The prediction of drought is conveyed both in writing and in a drawing of a deer dying from the heat with its tongue hanging out. In addition, the Dresden Codex presents calculations of the movement of the planet Venus. The Codex Madrid gives advice on how best to fit various activities, such as hunting or carving masks, into the calendar cycle.

Scribes demonstrated their art not only on paper, but also on stone, shells, and ceramic vessels. Inscriptions made using the stuka technique guaranteed greater safety, and therefore the Mayan royal genealogies preferred to be imprinted on stone. Texts on ceramics, also made by the nobility, were more personal in nature. Pottery often included the name of the owner, the purpose of the item (plate, dish with legs, container for liquid), and even the contents, such as cocoa or maize. Ceramics painted in this way were often given as gifts.

Ceramic artists sometimes worked together with masters of stone writing. The colors used for painting were red, blue, green and black. The best preserved Mayan wall paintings are in the city of Bonampak in what is now Mexico. It depicts preparations for battle, the battle itself and warriors with long spears fighting side by side, the sacrifice of captives and a festive ritual dance.

Religious Beliefs.

The Mayan pantheon represented the gods of the earth, rain, wind, lightning and other natural forces and phenomena. Chaks, the four gods of rain, were associated with the four cardinal points. They had to be cajoled so that they would not send down rain and hail. The Mayan religion did not contain Christian concepts of sin, punishment and atonement - it was intended to maintain the balance of the natural elements and ensure the fertility of the earth. Even in the 20th century. In the north of Yucatan, the Cha Chac religious rite is practiced in order to appease the gods and bring rain during drought.

2012... People in my town are massively buying candles, stewed food and soap. They think that this will protect them from the end of the world, which is scheduled to occur on December 21st. According to the Mayan calendar. Although I am a sober person, I still felt a nervous tic. But the day passed calmly and, as you can see, the world is still standing still. The Mayans were wrong.

Mayan civilization: where is it located?

For some reason I believed that the Mayans, Incas and Aztecs lived at the same time. But this is a mistake. The Aztecs experienced all the joys of the Spanish conquest, while the Mayan civilization at that time was almost dead. Mayan civilization was very highly developed and today her descendants treasure with trepidation what remains of their culture.

This civilization is very ancient. Its roots go back to 2nd millennium BC. A peak of development fell on 250-900 AD. The Mayans lived in the following territories:

• southern states of Mexico;
• Guatemala;
• Belize;
• western Honduras;
• El Salvador;
• Yucatan Peninsula.

These territories are very diverse in their landscape. The Mayans knew how transform dry lands into fertile soils. They grew cocoa, corn, beans, pumpkins, fruits and even cotton. Their society was divided into independent tribes, headed by a leader. Number of Mayan people was almost 3 million people. Medicine was very advanced. The Mayans even knew how to fill teeth. And their astronomers could very accurately calculate the cycles of the sun's movement and other planets.

Mayan secrets

But scientists are still struggling with one question. Why did the Mayan civilization disappear? After all, this civilization has reached incredible heights in construction, art, and intellectual development. But early 10th century Maya start leave their cities. Scientists put forward various versions - from epidemic to natural disaster. But so far no one has been able to solve this mystery.

And another mystery of this civilization is cenotes. This natural wells. It is believed that the Mayans built their cities taking into account their location. Near these wells sacrifices were made and the Mayans considered them entrance to the underworld. Also the Mayans for some reason tried change your body. For example, they deformed the forehead and made it flat. They deliberately shaped children to have squints or made their noses into the shape of a beak.

The Mayan civilization is unique. Their writing, calendar system, and knowledge of astronomy amaze even modern cosmology specialists. The Mayan Indians are one of the most ancient and mysterious civilizations that ever existed on Earth.

Birth of the Mayan civilization

Scientists have determined where the Indians lived. According to the theory, after the end of the last ice age, the tribes living in the north went south to develop new lands. Today it is the territory of Latin America.

Then, over the next 6 thousand years, the Indians created their own culture - they built cities and farmed.

By 1500 BC, the Mayans lived in the Yucatan Peninsula, present-day Guatemala, the southern states of Mexico, and the western parts of El Salvador and Honduras.

Mayan Indians: history of the development of civilization

The first major centers were the cities of El Mirador, Nakbe and Tikal. The construction of temples flourished, calendars were widely used, and hieroglyphic writing developed.

The photo below shows the ancient Mayan cultural center in the ancient city of Tikal.

The Indians created their own system, including architecture with unique buildings - pyramids, monuments, palaces, politics and social hierarchy. Society was divided into the masses and the elite, consisting of rulers.

The Mayans believed that their rulers were descended from the gods. The status was emphasized by robes with a mandatory attribute - a breast mirror. “Mirror of the people” - this is what the Mayans called their supreme ruler.

Maya ruling class

The ancient Mayan civilization numbered more than 20 million people.

A whole system of 200 cities was created, 20 of them were megacities with a population of more than 50 thousand people.

Economic development of the Mayans

Initially, the Mayans were engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture - they cut down the forest on the site that they planned to cultivate, then burned the trees and shrubs, and fertilized the soil with ash. Since the land in the tropics is infertile, its resources were quickly depleted, and the fields ceased to be cultivated. They words were overgrown with forest. Then the whole process began again.

But as the population increased, new methods were required, and the Indians began to use hillsides for terrace farming. Swamps were also developed - raised fields were built on them by building beds a meter high above the water level.

They installed irrigation systems, and water flowed into reservoirs through a network of canals.

They traveled on the water in canoes made of red wood. They could accommodate up to 50 people at the same time. They traded fish, shells, shark teeth and other seafood. Salt was like money.

Salt production

Obsidian imported from Mexico and Guatemala was used to make weapons.

Jade was a ritual stone, it was always in value.

Jade products

Those who lived on the plain traded food supplies, cotton, jaguar skins and quetzal feathers.

Art and architecture

During the "classical" early and late periods (250 - 600 AD and 600 - 900 AD), a huge number of temples were built, and wall paintings depicting rulers appeared. Art is flourishing.

Below is a photo of Barel'ev with the image of the ruler.

Copan and Palenque become new cultural centers.

Migration

Beginning in 900 AD, the southern plains gradually emptied, leaving settlements in the northern part of Yucatan. Until 1000 AD, the influence of Mexican culture grew, and the cities of Labna, Uxmal, Kabah and ChiChen Itza flourished.

Below is a photo of the pyramid in the city of ChiChen Itza

After the mysterious collapse of Chichen Itza, Mayapan becomes the main Mayan city.

Why did the Mayan civilization disappear?

No one knows for sure the reason for the disappearance of the Indian people. There are only hypotheses on this matter. According to the main one, in 1441 there was an uprising of the leaders who lived in the cities neighboring Mayapan. This caused the degeneration of civilization and its transformation into scattered tribes. Drought and famine also had an impact. Then the conquistadors appeared.

Below in the photo is the last center of civilization.

In 1517, Spanish ships landed on an unknown shore. In the battle with the Indians, the conquistadors saw gold. This began the extermination of the Mayan people, since the Spaniards believed that gold should belong to their rulers. In 1547, the Mayans were conquered, but some of the tribes managed to escape and hide in the center of the Yucatan Peninsula, where they lived for 150 years.

The diseases that the Spaniards brought with them caused outbreaks of epidemics. The Indians had no immunity to influenza, measles and smallpox, and they died by the millions.

The culture and religion of the Indians was exterminated in every possible way: temples were destroyed, shrines were destroyed, idolatry was punished by torture.

In the 100 years since the Europeans arrived in Latin America, the Mayan civilization was completely eradicated.

Watch the BBC documentary about the mysterious Mayan civilization below

Mayan civilization shrouded in many secrets and mysteries. Today, the descendants of the Indians do not particularly stand out among other races and peoples. But the ancient history of the Mayans haunts many researchers. Where did ordinary farmers, who were the Mayan tribes, get their amazing knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, writing and physics? How were they able to make incredibly complex objects or erect huge megaliths? Mysteries have always captivated the minds of people. Let's take an exciting journey into the mysterious Mayan history.

Stone head - symbol of the Almecs

Archaeologists are finding artifacts indicating that the territory of Mexico was inhabited several thousand years BC. Historians have differing opinions regarding the exact dating of these finds. In any case, it is obvious that ancient peoples moved to the North American continent in ancient times.

Officially recognized history considers the first Indian civilization to be the Olmecs, who lived on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico from the 2nd millennium BC. to 5th century AD They are credited with the invention of complex writing, the solar calendar, twenty-year countdown, sports and religious ball games, etc. It is also believed that the Olmecs were able to build pyramids and carve the famous five-meter heads of warriors out of stone.

The Zapotec Indian civilization is little studied. Historians suggest that it originated in the 5th century BC. The capital was located in Monte Alban, famous for its amazing Temple of the Dancing with inscriptions that have not yet been deciphered. The mysterious Izapa culture, traces of which were found in the state of Chiapas, has left historians with many artifacts for research. These include unusual steles with images of deities and people, monuments, and altars.

Aztec culture dates back to a later period in the history of Mexico until its conquest by the Spaniards. The capital of the Aztec state was Tenochtitlan, which later became the city of Mexico City. The Aztecs worshiped various deities, the main of which was considered the god of war, Huitzilopochtli. This tribe was very warlike: sacrifices of thousands of people were in the order of things. They were constantly at odds with the tribes around them and raided foreign territories. The last Aztec ruler, Cuauhtemoc, was overthrown by the conquistadors in 1521.

Among the many other Indian tribes that inhabited Mexico, one can distinguish the Tarascans, Mixtecs, Toltecs, Totonacs, and Chichimecs. The tribes of the Mayan civilization have earned a special position among their fellows thanks to the incredibly complex historical monuments and highly developed culture that official history ascribes to them.

Mayan history

Considering the history of the Mayan peoples, it should be noted that there are several theories of the development of this civilization. According to the official one - the one that is taught in universities and published in textbooks - the Mayan culture appeared about 3 thousand years ago. It had such a high level of technology, scientific knowledge and development that it was several times superior to the current civilization.

There is another theory, alternative, but gaining an increasing number of supporters. According to this theory, in ancient times there was a certain highly developed civilization that disappeared several thousand years BC. She left behind amazing historical monuments, writings and artifacts, testifying to an incredible level of development. This, by the way, is consistent with the biblical chronology of the times before the Flood. It appears that this civilization was destroyed in the Flood.

The Mayan Indians appeared in the territories of the ancient civilization much later. They began to master, as best they could, the found buildings and use calendars, statues and other objects of prehistoric culture in their everyday life. The Mayans themselves admit that they received their knowledge from the “gods”, and did not acquire it on their own. And what could one expect from a civilization whose main occupation was growing corn? Why did the Indians need deep knowledge of astronomy if they did not make space flights? How were the Mayans able to build huge pyramids if they didn't even have a wheel?

Which theory to follow is up to you. Let's look at some official dates from Mayan history.

1000-400 BC – the emergence of minor Mayan settlements in the northern part of Belize.

400-250 BC – rapid urban growth across large areas of the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador. Archaeologists have found a large number of works made of jade, obsidian and precious metals.

250 BC – 600 AD - The Mayan peoples formed into city-states, constantly fighting with each other for territory.

600-950 AD – the rise and subsequent decline of many Mayan cities. The reasons for such desolation are still unclear to historians. Some cite some kind of natural disaster, such as severe drought, as an explanation. Others argue that these could be wars of conquest or epidemics.

950-1500 AD - new cities emerge in the north of Yucatan, special importance is attached to maritime trade with the Aztecs.

1517 - the first documented contact of the Mayans with Europeans on the Yucatan Peninsula. Then the Indians were defeated in a battle with the well-armed Spaniards. But for several decades they desperately fought for independence from the invaders.

During the Spanish Conquest, colonialists mercilessly destroyed the cultural characteristics of the Mayans, trying to convert them to the Catholic faith. It is known that the Catholic priest Diego de Landa burned a collection of Mayan books in order to fight shamanism.

Mysteries of the Mayans

In the territories where the Mayan people lived, a huge number of objects were found that amaze modern researchers. Some can be viewed in museums in Mexico, such as the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, while others are scattered in museums around the world. And how many have not yet received general publicity!

According to archaeologists, multi-colored quartz skulls were not uncommon among Mayan treasures. It is not yet possible to establish their exact dating. It is even more difficult to determine how they were performed and, most importantly, why. One such skull is the legendary Mitchells-Hedges skull. It was found according to reports from the researcher himself, after whom it received its name, during excavations in the jungle of the Yucatan Peninsula. The skull amazes with the perfection of its lines. It has an amazing property: when light rays hit it at a certain angle, the eye sockets of the skull begin to glow. Was this skull used in the worship of deities during some religious rituals, or did it simply serve as interior decoration? There are no exact answers yet, but there are many assumptions.

Modern researchers are like the African aborigines who found a glass bottle in the desert and are trying to determine its purpose by shining the sun's rays on it. Most likely, the ancients used crystal skulls in ways we cannot even imagine.

In the modern world there are no technologies that could replicate such a masterpiece. But there is not a single trace of tools on the ancient crystal skull. So for now, this amazing object remains one of the biggest mysteries of the past.

The famous archaeological site of Palenque is located in the Mexican state of Chiapas. A mysterious sarcophagus was found in the Temple of the Inscriptions located there. Scientists attribute its existence to the Mayan ruler Pakal, who was buried in it. The amazing images on the lid of the sarcophagus still cause controversy in scientific circles. Some see in the drawing Pakal himself, resurrected from the kingdom of the dead. Others suggest that this is not Pacal at all, but some kind of prehistoric astronaut in the cockpit of a spaceship. It is impossible to say anything for sure. Therefore, the sarcophagus is shrouded in mystery.

Not only the stone lid is interesting, but also the sarcophagus itself. It's just huge. Its dimensions are 3.8 m by 2.2 m. The sarcophagus is carved from solid stone weighing 15 tons and has a precise rectangular shape. The lid weighs 5 and a half tons. How could it be accomplished? It is difficult to imagine ancient Indians breaking a block of stone with primitive tools. It is even more difficult to guess how and who installed this giant in the pyramid.

The calendar attributed to the Mayan culture amazes scientists with its complexity and accuracy. According to researchers, it consists of two calendars: solar and sacred (galactic). The first included 365 days, the second - 260. The sacred calendar (Tzolkin) is a number system of 13 numbers and 20 symbols. Many claim to have deciphered the Mayan calendar. As soon as they do not explain the meaning of its symbols and numbers. Some people associate the calendar with predictions of future events. Some see in his calculations the movement of the sun around the center of the galaxy. The exact origin and purpose of the Mayan calendar remains a mystery. One thing is obvious: its creation required very deep knowledge of mathematics and astronomy.
The most important Mayan monuments

The Mayan culture left behind numerous archaeological monuments: pyramids, temples, frescoes, steles, sculptures, etc. Studying them is a very exciting activity. It's worth making a trip through them yourself when the opportunity arises. The beauty and mystery of these buildings is simply breathtaking.

It is essentially a pyramid with a small building on top. The pyramid got its name thanks to three slabs with hieroglyphs on the walls of the temple. Several groups of scientists were engaged in deciphering the inscriptions, but they were never completely read. A tunnel was discovered in the pyramid leading to a secret room. There, archaeologists found a sarcophagus with the Mayan ruler Pakal buried in it, discussed above.

This is a unique pyramid 30 meters high. At its top there is a temple in which the ancient Mayan priests made sacrifices to their supreme deity Kukulkan. The pyramid is famous for its unusual construction: twice a year on the days of the equinox, the shadow from the ledges of the pyramid falls on the steps, creating the impression of a crawling snake. Surely, for the Indians this picture looked terrifying. Inside the temple is a “jaguar throne” decorated with shells and jade. It is believed that rulers sat on it. The dimensions of this “throne” are small and its exact purpose is unknown.

The height of the pyramid is 36 meters. This pyramid is famous for the fact that its base is not square, but oval. According to an ancient Mayan legend, it was built in one night by a sorcerer who knew how to rearrange stones with spells. The pyramid has several platforms, at the top there is a temple dedicated to the rain god Chaak. The Wizard's pyramid itself is decorated with images of this deity, as well as snakes and people.

- the only Mayan port city that has survived to this day. Its name translates as “wall”. Indeed, part of the city's defensive wall testifies to its former greatness. There are also several impressive palaces and temples to be seen here.

is an ancient Mayan city, the territory of which cannot be explored in one day. The city has an area of ​​70 square meters. km. To walk along it, you can rent a bicycle or ride a bicycle taxi. Koba is famous for its huge pyramids, a 100-kilometer road and many other mysterious buildings.

On the territory of the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza there is a mysterious sacred cenote or natural karst well. A three-hundred-meter road leads to it from the Kukulkan pyramid. The Mayan Indians used the cenote during religious rituals. To achieve the favor of their fictitious deities, they sacrificed not only precious stones, gold items and weapons, but also people. They were simply thrown to the bottom of the well in the hope that the deity would send the long-awaited rain in return.

The history of discoveries and mysteries of Mexico

Very scant information has reached us from the Spanish colonialists about the ancient Mayan cities they found. In addition, they are more like fairy tales about cities of gold.
For many years, Mayan treasures were lost in the impenetrable jungle. The purposeful study of the monuments of ancient Mayan culture was started by the American John Stephens in 1839. He was able to discover cities such as Palenque, Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Copan, etc. He described his observations in a book that created a real sensation in the scientific world of America and Europe. Following Stephenson, many researchers from different countries went deep into the jungle, eager for new discoveries and solutions to mysteries. Several US research institutes have taken the lead in archaeological excavations.

At first, the main attention was paid to the study of buildings, inscriptions, bas-reliefs, steles and frescoes, i.e. external attributes. Over time, scientists delved deeper into the study of small objects and parts, as well as what was hidden underground.

For example, at the end of the 19th century, the American E. Thompson arrived on the Yucatan Peninsula. Previously, he had received evidence from Diego de Landa that countless riches were stored at the bottom of the sacred well in Chichen Itza. The American decided to test this statement and, armed with the necessary tools, pulled out real treasures from the bottom of the well. These were jewelry made of jade, gold, copper, and the remains of more than 40 people were also discovered.

Another sensational discovery occurred in 1949 at the archaeological complex of Palenque. Archaeologist A. Rus noticed that one of the slabs on the floor in the Temple of the Inscriptions has holes closed with plugs. He decided to lift this slab and discovered the entrance to the tunnel. The tunnel needed to be cleared of stones and earth, which took several years. In June 1952, an archaeologist was able to enter the underground room under the pyramid. There he discovered the famous sarcophagus with the Mayan ruler Pakal buried in it. In addition to the sarcophagus, human remains, jewelry and jewelry were found. Scientists are still trying to explain the meaning of the image on the five-ton sarcophagus lid.

To date, only a small part of the cultural heritage of ancient civilization has been discovered and studied. In addition, much is simply inaccessible to ordinary lovers of antiquities. Who knows how many more ancient treasures are waiting to be discovered...