The Mayan Civilization

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the Mayans, primarily from the lowlands in the central regions of southern Guatemala, built incredibly sophisticated urban centers, created an astronomical science and mathematics among the most sophisticated in the pre-modern world and established the most developed and complex system of writing in the Americas. The author points out that, because the Mayan cities were used as religious centers for the surrounding rural population and not as a true urban culture, the decline of the cities after 900 A.D. did not involve a colossal social change. The paper relates that customs and traditions of the ancient Maya are still very much a part of the fabric of Guatemalan life, sharing a common ancestral heritage that is expressed in religion, music, dance, foods and social organization.

From the Paper:

"Today, the Maya can be found in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and the five Mexican states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo. There are approximately thirty different indigenous Mayan languages, however, the majority of the Maya also speak Spanish. The present day Guatemalan Mayas have preserved much of their culture and religion. However, there can be found a mixture of Mayan and Western European traditions, an aspect most obvious in religious practices, in which the modern Maya have created their own brand of Christianity, a blend of Catholic tradition and ancient ritual."

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