The Maya civilization is one of the most advanced and mysterious ancient civilizations in the world. This culture dates back to about B.C. 2000 to AD Bloomed in Central America during the 1500s. The Mayan empire spanned the territory of present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. The advancements made by the Maya in science, mathematics, astronomy, architecture, and the writing system continue to amaze scholars today.
Maya society was divided into independent city-states. Its major cities were Tikal, Chichen Itza, Palenque, Copan. Each city had its own king, religious centers and administrative system. Maya kings were considered not only political but also religious leaders. Religion was central to Maya culture. Pujas, yagnas and sometimes even human sacrifices were offered to appease the deities.
The Maya writing system was very advanced. They used hieroglyphs to record history, rituals, dynasties and important events on stones, walls and manuscripts. It took decades for researchers to fully understand this script. His writings provide important information about the Mayan lifestyle today.
The contribution of the Maya to mathematics and astronomy is unparalleled. He used the concept of ‘zero’ several centuries before Europe. The Mayan calendar is world famous. His ‘Long Count Calendar’ system was so accurate that he could accurately predict eclipses, sun-moon movements and seasonal changes. The Mayan calendar also spread the misconception that the world would end in 2012, but it actually signaled the end of an era.
In architecture, the Maya civilization built magnificent pyramids, temples, palaces and observatories. A good example is the ‘El Caslo’ pyramid at Chichen Itza. Here the sunlight on the equinox creates the appearance of a snake figure, a symbol of Mayan astronomy.
Why Maya society declined despite such an advanced culture is still a matter of debate. Wars, environmental changes, droughts, food shortages and social instability are considered as possible causes. But the Maya people were not completely destroyed. Even today, millions of Mayan descendants in Central America preserve their language, traditions and culture.
The Maya culture is a wonderful example of human intelligence, observation and creativity. The Maya civilization is a living proof of how advanced human thinking can be even thousands of years ago.
