The MayaThe Classic Mesoamerican CivilizationA Mesoamerican civilization, noted for their fully developed written languages, as well as itsspectacular art, monumental architecture, and sophisticated mathematical and astronomicalsystemsThe Geographical AreaExtended throughout the southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco and the YucatanPeninsula states of Quintana Roo, Campeche and YucatanThe Maya area also extended throughout the northern Central American region, including thepresent-day nations of Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and western HondurasThe Mayan civilization is divided into three time periods which engulfed 3,000 yearsThe first is thePre-Classic Periodspanning from 2000 B.C.-250 A.D.The second is theClassic Periodwhich spanned from 250 A.D.-900 A.D.The third is thePost-Classic Periodwhich spanned from 900 A.D.-1500 A.D.AgricultureAgriculture was the main basis of the Mayan economy in the pre-Columbian eraMaize was the primary crop of the MayaCotton, beans, squash and cacao were also grownThey had many techniques of spinning, dyeing, and weaving cottonThe Mayan culture also domesticated the dog and the turkey, but had no larger animals ormachines with wheelsMayan WritingThe Maya had a sophisticated system of writingIt was developed in order to record their transition of power through the generationsThis writing was composed of inscriptions on stone and wood, and was usually used on theinside or outside of their architectureWritten BooksThe books they made were called “folding tree books”These books were made from fig tree bark and usually placed in the royal tombsFew of these books have survived due in part of the tropical climate of the regionAlso, few of these books have survived due to the Spanish InvasionCortez and others claimed their symbolic writing system was the devil’s workFour of these books (codices) survive today
