The Maya continue to capture our imagination with their advanced knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and sophisticated writing systems.
Social Hierarchy: Mayan society was hierarchical, with a king or ruler at the top, followed by nobles, priests, artisans, merchants, and peasants at the bottom. Priests held a particularly important role, as they were responsible for religious ceremonies, astronomy, and maintaining the calendar.
Agriculture & traditions: The Mayans were skilled farmers who developed a sophisticated system of agriculture to support their growing population. They relied heavily on maize (corn), beans, and squash, and used techniques like slash-and-burn agriculture, irrigation, and terracing to maximize their yields.
Art, Architecture: Mayan cities were marvels of urban planning, featuring towering pyramids, temples, palaces, plazas, ball courts, and many impressive Architectural buildings. These structures were often elaborately decorated with sculptures and hieroglyphs.
Advanced Calendar System: The Maya developed a sophisticated calendar system that included a 260-day ritual calendar and a 365-day solar calendar. They were skilled astronomers who tracked the movements of the planets and used their knowledge to predict celestial events and plan ceremonies.
Around the 9th century CE, many major Maya city-states in the southern lowlands were mysteriously abandoned. The exact reasons for this collapse are still debated, but theories include environmental changes, warfare, and social unrest. Despite their decline, Mayan culture has left an enduring legacy. Descendants of the Maya continue to live in Central America, and their languages and traditions are still practiced today. The Maya continue to capture our imagination with their advanced knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and sophisticated writing systems.
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