Mayans

The Mayans formed one of the great societies that inhabited pre-Columbian America.

They lived in the region that corresponds to the present-day Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, as well as Belize and parts of Guatemala and Honduras in Central America.

Political Organization of the Mayans

The Mayans didn't manage to build a unified empire like the Aztecs and Incas did.

They were politically organized into city-states that, together with the villages, formed independent political units, each with its own degree of development.

In each state authority and power were exercised in the name of a god.

The head of government of cities was advised by a council and assisted by a group of civil servants responsible for maintaining public order, such as village chiefs, military chiefs, among others.

Mayan Economy

The economy of the Mayan civilization was basically agricultural . They cultivated corn, a product considered sacred, cotton, cocoa and agave.

They completed their economic activities with hunting, fishing and handicrafts. The mode of production was collective, the land was not private property and theoretically the State was the owner of all lands.

As a member of the village, every peasant had the right to use them and make a living from them, with the obligation to pay the collective tax, levied by the State.

The State also appropriated the peasants' workforce, forcing them to work free of charge in the construction of palaces, temples and large irrigation and dams works.

Mayan Society and Culture

The grandeur of Mayan society was built on the work of a controlled and disciplined population. The social organization was rigid. There were social layers like:

• The highest strata were the royal family, holders of key government posts, and merchants.
• In the second tier were state servants, such as tax collectors, those responsible for defense and the directors of ceremonies.
• In the third layer were the manual workers and farmers.
• Finally, the enslaved, who were usually prisoners of war.

The most powerful social group, the priests, monopolized writing and scientific knowledge, especially astronomy and mathematics.

The Mayans believed that the destiny of humanity was ruled by the gods, so religion was present in all cultural activities of the people.

They developed their own writing system, until today almost indecipherable, based on the representation of objects and ideas. It is known to have a high degree of abstraction.

Religion of the Mayans

The Mayans believed that fate was ruled by the gods. Itzamna, lord of the sky, was the most important god. The gods of the moon, sun, rain, wind, death and life were also worshiped, as well as deities linked to agriculture and hunting.

The deities were offered various foods, sacrifices of animals and humans, in ceremonies that included dances and theatrical performances.

Decline of the Mayan Civilization

From the 9th century onwards, the slow and continuous decline of the Mayan civilization began. There are several hypotheses regarding this fact.

Some scholars believe it may have been due to wars, infighting, invasions, or mismanagement regarding the exploitation of the land.

Soil depletion would have made production insufficient for consumption needs and forced the Mayans to abandon their main cities.

What is said, with certainty, is that when the Spaniards arrived in America, the Mayan civilization did not exist anymore.

Also read:

• Incas
• Aztecs
• Spanish America
• Independence of Spanish America
• First Peoples of America
• Pre-Columbian Peoples