Mayan Civilization: Tikal
Mayan Civilization: Tikal The Maya are among the best-known of the classical civilizations of Mesoamerica. Mayan history starts back in the Yucatan dating around 2600 B.C., Mayan history rose to prominence around A.D. 250 in what is present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, western Honduras, El Salvador, and northern Belize. The Mayans were able to develop astronomy, calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing, and were noted for their construction of elaborate and highly decorated ceremonial architecture. Mayan history consists of three distinct time periods; Classic period (300 - 900 A.D.), Post classic period (1000 – 1500 A.D.), and the Post Columbian period (1500 A.D.). Among these the Classic period is the most artistically and culturally
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distinguished. The major cities of the Classic period were Tikal (Guatemala), Palenque and Yaxchiln (Chiapas, Mexico), Copan and Quirigua (Honduras). The ancient Maya city of Tikal is located in the heart of the Department of Peten in the present country of Guatemala.
It is a heavy tropical rainforest area not well suited for the human kind to live off of but it somehow flourished. Tikal is the largest most powerful and wealthiest of all the lowland Maya cities. The city was established at around 800 B.C. “It is estimated to have had a peak population of 100,000 to 200,000 with an urban density of 600 to 700 people per square kilometer” (CyArk.com). Tikal was the dominant epicenter where most of the market transaction of the Mayan empire occurred but it as well was limited due to its geographic location. Tikal was ultimately believed to be conquered and overtaken by Teotihuacan in the late classic period due to findings that no new monuments were built and evidence that elite palaces were burned …show more content…
down. Among the Tikal settlement a hierarchal system exists placing a class structure. This structure consisted of the typical classes the elite, specialist class, commoners, and the slave class. The elite class consisted of the ruling class which was determined by birth: distinction maintained by endogamy, power based on economic and religious actions, and orderly succession of Ahaus was the key to power. The specialist class consisted of merchants and administrators: membership was based on family, but there was a possibility of rising to this position from commoner but only based on ability. The commoners consisted of farmers and laborers. Slaves were laborers but Maya slaves were more closely related to indentured servants. The Mayan rulers were not only held as the rulers of their settlement but rather were held as gods as well. “The Mayan rulers were called holy lords. They acted like kings and were worshipped by their subject as if they were gods” ( ). Tikal was the Super Power among the Maya city-states, and it's major rivals were Calakmul, the Hix Witz Polity, La Coronaand Waka´to the northwest, Caracol and El Naranjo to the east and Dos Pilas to the south, warfare with these cities were mainly between 560 and 700 A.D. Its strongest allies, that formed a polity or "Mutul Cuchcabal" were Uaxactun, Yaxha, Naachtun, Nakum, and also had strong ties with Polol, Ceibal, Quirigua, Piedras Negras, Rio Azul, Copan and Kaminal Jyu in the Central Highlands. The rivalry between Tikal and Calakmul was the most frequent it was a constant battle between the two in an effort to gain the most the resources within the area. Both settlements lied within the region of Peten and were relatively close, about 60 miles, so this lead to a constant competition. The two cities would dominate one another when one was able to gain strength so it was a constant back and forth conquest of one another. Although Calakmul was able to ally itself with Yaxchilan, Naranjo, and Caracol as well as utilizing the method of surrounding Tikals smaller surrounding cities allowing them to take the center of Tikal much easier. The Maya based their economy mainly on agriculture and trade. Their agriculture was based on the harvest of corn. Large fields were harvested and then slashed and burnt down which prepared the soil for planting. “They also used the slash and burn method which means they cut down trees, dried, and then burned them which made ashes which will fertilize the soil” (Benjamin R. Kracht). This type of extensive agriculture requires an abundance of land but with the low productivity of the region’s soil it made it necessary to change the planting grounds often leaving harvested lands unusable. This extensive exhaustion of the land along with the general increase in population forced the use of alternatives to high-yielding crops. There was an absence of springs, rivers, and lakes in the nearby vicinity. Which lead to the use of an irrigation system, this included the use of canals and elevated grounds related to hydraulic agriculture. This was not the only method used to allow the collection of water, the city itself was built so as to collect water in the vast reservoirs which were lined with stucco so as to prevent the soil from absorbing the water. The Mayans dietary regime did not only include these crops but as well it included animal meat, fish, sea products, root crops and local fruits. The ultimate downfall for Tikal is thought to be the heavy reliance of agricultural crops and the lack of natural water forcing them to be face with long periods of droughts. The Mayan economy was largely based off of its own individual development but as well it relied on trading.
This was a key point for Tikal since its budding population required it to obtain goods from other settlements far away. The main goods traded were food which consisted of squash, potatoes, corn, beans, maize, honey, and cocoa. But as well they traded hard stone, salt and pottery. The prestige goods that the elites would trade and receive consisted of are Quetzal feathers, fine ceramics, jade, obsidian and pyrite. These prestige goods were just a representation of the power the elite rulers had. “Maya farmers transported their cocoa beans to market by canoe or in large baskets strapped to their backs, and a Mecapal, (forehead band tied to the basket). Wealthy merchants traveled further, employing porters, as there were no horses, pack animals or wheeled carts in Central America at that time.” The methods of transporting the goods needed for trade heavily relied on ones status and resources available to them. Tikal was the largest market known and allowed for the redistribution of all the products to end up for sale in all the minor cities within the
empire.
Tikal was a dominant figure in the Mayan empire due to its role in the economic market. This heavily fell into place because it was among the most populated cities of the time and region. This allowed for an agricultural market that could produce faster than other small cities. But this in turn was not generally a great idea for Tikal considering that their region of land was not developed for this type of living. The exhaustion of their land combined with the lack of local constant water outlined the demise of the city.
distinguished. The major cities of the Classic period were Tikal (Guatemala), Palenque and Yaxchiln (Chiapas, Mexico), Copan and Quirigua (Honduras). The ancient Maya city of Tikal is located in the heart of the Department of Peten in the present country of Guatemala.
It is a heavy tropical rainforest area not well suited for the human kind to live off of but it somehow flourished. Tikal is the largest most powerful and wealthiest of all the lowland Maya cities. The city was established at around 800 B.C. “It is estimated to have had a peak population of 100,000 to 200,000 with an urban density of 600 to 700 people per square kilometer” (CyArk.com). Tikal was the dominant epicenter where most of the market transaction of the Mayan empire occurred but it as well was limited due to its geographic location. Tikal was ultimately believed to be conquered and overtaken by Teotihuacan in the late classic period due to findings that no new monuments were built and evidence that elite palaces were burned …show more content…
down. Among the Tikal settlement a hierarchal system exists placing a class structure. This structure consisted of the typical classes the elite, specialist class, commoners, and the slave class. The elite class consisted of the ruling class which was determined by birth: distinction maintained by endogamy, power based on economic and religious actions, and orderly succession of Ahaus was the key to power. The specialist class consisted of merchants and administrators: membership was based on family, but there was a possibility of rising to this position from commoner but only based on ability. The commoners consisted of farmers and laborers. Slaves were laborers but Maya slaves were more closely related to indentured servants. The Mayan rulers were not only held as the rulers of their settlement but rather were held as gods as well. “The Mayan rulers were called holy lords. They acted like kings and were worshipped by their subject as if they were gods” ( ). Tikal was the Super Power among the Maya city-states, and it's major rivals were Calakmul, the Hix Witz Polity, La Coronaand Waka´to the northwest, Caracol and El Naranjo to the east and Dos Pilas to the south, warfare with these cities were mainly between 560 and 700 A.D. Its strongest allies, that formed a polity or "Mutul Cuchcabal" were Uaxactun, Yaxha, Naachtun, Nakum, and also had strong ties with Polol, Ceibal, Quirigua, Piedras Negras, Rio Azul, Copan and Kaminal Jyu in the Central Highlands. The rivalry between Tikal and Calakmul was the most frequent it was a constant battle between the two in an effort to gain the most the resources within the area. Both settlements lied within the region of Peten and were relatively close, about 60 miles, so this lead to a constant competition. The two cities would dominate one another when one was able to gain strength so it was a constant back and forth conquest of one another. Although Calakmul was able to ally itself with Yaxchilan, Naranjo, and Caracol as well as utilizing the method of surrounding Tikals smaller surrounding cities allowing them to take the center of Tikal much easier. The Maya based their economy mainly on agriculture and trade. Their agriculture was based on the harvest of corn. Large fields were harvested and then slashed and burnt down which prepared the soil for planting. “They also used the slash and burn method which means they cut down trees, dried, and then burned them which made ashes which will fertilize the soil” (Benjamin R. Kracht). This type of extensive agriculture requires an abundance of land but with the low productivity of the region’s soil it made it necessary to change the planting grounds often leaving harvested lands unusable. This extensive exhaustion of the land along with the general increase in population forced the use of alternatives to high-yielding crops. There was an absence of springs, rivers, and lakes in the nearby vicinity. Which lead to the use of an irrigation system, this included the use of canals and elevated grounds related to hydraulic agriculture. This was not the only method used to allow the collection of water, the city itself was built so as to collect water in the vast reservoirs which were lined with stucco so as to prevent the soil from absorbing the water. The Mayans dietary regime did not only include these crops but as well it included animal meat, fish, sea products, root crops and local fruits. The ultimate downfall for Tikal is thought to be the heavy reliance of agricultural crops and the lack of natural water forcing them to be face with long periods of droughts. The Mayan economy was largely based off of its own individual development but as well it relied on trading.
This was a key point for Tikal since its budding population required it to obtain goods from other settlements far away. The main goods traded were food which consisted of squash, potatoes, corn, beans, maize, honey, and cocoa. But as well they traded hard stone, salt and pottery. The prestige goods that the elites would trade and receive consisted of are Quetzal feathers, fine ceramics, jade, obsidian and pyrite. These prestige goods were just a representation of the power the elite rulers had. “Maya farmers transported their cocoa beans to market by canoe or in large baskets strapped to their backs, and a Mecapal, (forehead band tied to the basket). Wealthy merchants traveled further, employing porters, as there were no horses, pack animals or wheeled carts in Central America at that time.” The methods of transporting the goods needed for trade heavily relied on ones status and resources available to them. Tikal was the largest market known and allowed for the redistribution of all the products to end up for sale in all the minor cities within the
empire.
Tikal was a dominant figure in the Mayan empire due to its role in the economic market. This heavily fell into place because it was among the most populated cities of the time and region. This allowed for an agricultural market that could produce faster than other small cities. But this in turn was not generally a great idea for Tikal considering that their region of land was not developed for this type of living. The exhaustion of their land combined with the lack of local constant water outlined the demise of the city.