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Thursday, November 15, 2012

Knowing About the Mayan Civilization Tikal

By Linda Patterson


Some artifacts were found that were associated with the early Maya that is dated around 2600 BCE, although there is no exact date regarding the civilization of Maya. These artifacts were bowl remains and clay figurines. It was the foragers who became the first settlers and eventually became local tribes and established villages in a farming community. They were into mining and pottery that helped them to endure. The civilization was trade dependent because of their rich resources.

All throughout the Preclassic period around 2000 BC to 300 AD, their trade networks with other Mesoamerican cultures were very strong. Their specialization with particular goods made their trading network runs from Guatemala up to Mexico blossomed. The trade of Obsidian, Jade and Turquoise with their neighbors contributed a lot to their economy. Mayan glyph was invented which enabled them to write about their history.

The Mayas became powerful masters in the Yucatan Peninsula and as well as Central America during the classic period around 200 BC. Massive pyramids and temples were built during this period and it became a developed metropolis, with an improved agriculture. The urbanization spread up to the south to Honduras originating from Tikal which is the principal city.

In the ancient Mayans, one of the powerful kingdoms was Tikal which is located in the region of Peten. It was one of the major cultural and population centers during this period. During the 4th century AD, Tikal was conquered by Teotihuacan some evidence suggests. Some elite places were burned during the late Classic period and there were no new monuments built. There was abandonment of the place in the 10th century as population gradually declined.

One of the greatest Mesoamerican civilizations was Mayan civilization. Although it is the greatest, it was not unified and each state was reigned by sacred lords. Trade networks, military alliance and shared rituals linked them to one another. The fall of the Mayan civilization stays a mystery. There are several assumptions why it happened. One is the trade which they are very dependent to it. The downfall of the Mayan Society happened because of the fall of trade routes. Other theories states that the lower classes revolt because of work overload. The burning of the temple and destruction of thrones were considered as evidences. Epidemic diseases that spread all over the place are one of the reasons according to some experts.

Today, the remnants of Mayan civilization draw tourists to visit Mexico. One of these places is Chichen Itza where architectural innovations became tourist attractions such as the Temple of Kukulcan.




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