Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization
Archaeological evidence shows the Maya had started to build ceremonial architecture by approximately 1000 BCE. There is some disagreement...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Decline Of The Maya
In the 8th and 9th centuries CE Classic Maya culture went into decline, with most of the cities of the central lowlands abandoned. Warfar...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Decline Of The Maya
In the 8th and 9th centuries CE, Classic Maya culture went into decline, with most of the cities of the central lowlands abandoned. Warfa...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Architecture
As unique and spectacular as any Greek or Roman architecture, Maya architecture spans many thousands of years; yet, often the most dramat...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Architecture
As unique and spectacular as any Greek or Roman architecture, Maya architecture spans many thousands of years; yet, often the most dramat...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar: Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar
The Maya calendar is actually a system of distinct calendars and almanacs used by the Maya civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Classic Maya Language: Encyclopedia - Classic Maya Language
The Classic Maya language is the oldest historically attested member of the Maya language family. It is the main language documented in t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Mythology: Encyclopedia - Maya Mythology
Maya mythology refers to the pre-Columbian Maya civilization's extensive polytheistic religious beliefs. These beliefs had most likely be...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mayan: Encyclopedia - Mayan
The adjective Mayan is sometimes used to refer to the indigenous peoples of parts of Mexico and Central America, their culture, language,...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tzolkin: Encyclopedia - Tzolkin
Tzolkin (or tzolk'in, in the revised orthography which is now preferred) is the name bestowed by Mayanist scholars upon the version of th...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Comalcalco: Encyclopedia - Comalcalco
Comalcalco is a site of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization in what is now the state of Tabasco, Mexico. It is the only known major Maya ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jaina: Encyclopedia - Jaina
Jaina can refer to: Jaina, Campeche, a site of the Maya civilization. Jaina Solo, a Star Wars Expanded Universe character. Jaina (Xindi)...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Popol Vuh: Encyclopedia - Popol Vuh
The Popol Vuh (Quiché for "Council Book" or "Book of the Community"; Popol Wuj in modern spelling) is the book of scripture of the Quich...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Cival: Encyclopedia - Cival
Cival is an archaeological site in the Petén department of Guatemala, formerly a major city of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. The ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yucatán Peninsula: Encyclopedia - Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. It comprises the Mexican states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabah: Encyclopedia - Kabah
The name Kabah can refer to: A Maya civilization city in Yucatán, Mexico; see: Kabah, Yucatán A Mexican pop music group; see: Kabah (...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Chaac: Encyclopedia - Chaac
Chaac (also rendered as Chaak or Chac) is an important deity in the pantheon of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. In Ma...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Diego De Landa: Encyclopedia - Diego De Landa
Diego de Landa Calderón (1524 – 1579) was Bishop of Yucatán. De Landa was in charge of bringing the Roman Catholic faith to the Maya ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Uxmal: Encyclopedia - Uxmal
Uxmal is a large Pre-Columbian ruined city of the Maya civilization in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. It is 78 km south of Mérida, Yucat...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yo'okop: Encyclopedia - Yo'okop
Yo'okop is the name of a ruined city that was part of the ancient Maya civilization. The city is located in central Quintana Roo, Mexico....   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Uaxactun: Encyclopedia - Uaxactun
Uaxactun (pronounced Wash-ak-toon) is an ancient ruin of the Maya civilization, located in the Peten department of Guatemala, some 40 km ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 760: Encyclopedia - 760
760 - Events. Maya civilization city of Dos Pilas is abandoned. The church of Santa Sophia in Benevento is built (approximate date) In...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 629: Encyclopedia - 629
629 - Events. Jerusalem reconquered by Byzantine Empire from the Persian Empire (September). Emperor Jomei ascends to the throne of Ja...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Chichen Itza: Encyclopedia - Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in Yucatán, Mexico. The city was built by the Maya civilization. Chichen Itza ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Coba: Encyclopedia - Coba
Coba (Cobá in the Spanish language) is a large ruined city of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located in the state of Quintana Roo,...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Chinkultic: Encyclopedia - Chinkultic
Chinkultic is a moderate-size archeological ruin in what is now the state of Chiapas, Mexico, some 56km from the small modern city of Com...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Augustus Le Plongeon: Encyclopedia - Augustus Le Plongeon
Augustus le Plongeon (1825-1908) was a photographer, antiquarian and amateur archaeologist who was made the first attempted excavations a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Aktzin: Encyclopedia - Aktzin
Aktzin (alternate spellings: Aktsin, Aktsini, Aktziní) was the god of rain, thunder and lightning for the Totonac people in ancient Mexi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tzompantli: Encyclopedia - Tzompantli
A tzompantli is a type wooden rack or palisade documented in several Mesoamerican civilizations, which was used for the public display of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zaculeu: Encyclopedia - Zaculeu
Zaculeu is a Pre-Columbian archeological site in the highlands of south western Guatemala, a short distance outside of the city of Huehue...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 200: Encyclopedia - 200
200 - Events. Jewish Eretz Yisraeli scholar Judah ha-Nasi compiles tracts of the Mishnah, beginning the creation of Talmudic law. Chin...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 300: Encyclopedia - 300
300 - Events. Romano-Celtic temple-mausoleum complex is constructed in Lullingstone, and also in Anderida (approximate date). Magnetic...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 1441: Encyclopedia - 1441
1441 - Events. June 24 - Eton College founded. Ouagadougou becomes the capital of the Mossi Empire. Two Ethiopians attend an ecclesias...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Pyramidology: Encyclopedia - Pyramidology
Pyramidology is a term used to refer to various pseudoscientific speculations regarding pyramids, which are alternative and run counter t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - A Short History Of Progress: Encyclopedia - A Short History Of Progress
A Short History of Progress, written by Ronald Wright, describes how four historical civilizations (Easter Island, Sumer, Maya and Rome) ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Calendar - Long Count
Since Calendar Round dates can only distinguish within 18980 days, equivalent to around 52 solar years, the cycle repeats roughly once ea...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Calendar - Venus Cycle
Another important calendar for the Maya was the Venus cycle. The Maya were excellent astronomers, and could calculate the Venus cycle ext...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Calendar - Calendar Round
Neither the Tzolkin nor the Haab system numbered the years. The combination of a Tzolkin date and a Haab date was enough to identify a da...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Calendar - Maya Concepts Of Time
With the development of the place-notational Long Count calendar (believed to have been inherited from other Mesoamerican cultures), the ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Calendar - Tzolk'in
Mayanists have bestowed the name tzolkin (or tzolk'in, in the revised orthography which is now preferred) on the Maya version of the Meso...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Calendar - General Overview
The most important of these calendars is one with a period of 260 days. This 260-day calendar was prevalent across all Mesoamerican socie...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Calendar: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Calendar - Haab
The Haab was the Maya solar calendar made up of eighteen months of twenty days each and a five day month at the end of the year known as ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Mythology: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Mythology - Overview
The Maya believed there were five different cardinal directions four of which were associated with colors: north/white, south/yellow, eas...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - Mesoamerica
History of astronomy - Maya civilization. The Maya calculated the solar year to somewhat greater accuracy than the Gregorian calendar. ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Codices: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Codices - Background
There were many such books in existence at the time of the Spanish conquest of Yucatán in the 16th century, but they were destroyed in b...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Spanish Conquest Of Yucatán: Encyclopedia Ii - Spanish Conquest Of Yucatán - Early Contact Between The Spanish And The Maya Of Yucatán
The first Spanish arrived in Yucatán by accident in 1511 when a small boat with a dozen men was blown there by a severe storm. They were...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Codices: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Codices - Background
There were many such books in existence at the time of the Spanish conquest of Yucatán in the 16th century, but they were destroyed in b...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Mythology: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Mythology - The Creation Myth
In Maya mythology, Tepeu and Gucumatz (also known as Kukulkan, and as the Aztec's Quetzalcoatl) are referred to as the Creators, the Make...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Spanish Conquest Of Yucatán: Encyclopedia Ii - Spanish Conquest Of Yucatán - Early Contact Between The Spanish And The Maya Of Yucatán
The first Spanish arrived in Yucatán by accident in 1511 when a small boat with a dozen men was blown there by a severe storm. They were...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Mythology: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Mythology - The First Humans
Maya mythology - The Men. B'alam Agab Meaning "night jaguar," he was the second of the men created from maize after the Great Flood se...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Technology: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Technology - Measuring Technological Progress
Many sociologists and anthropologists have created social theories dealing with social and cultural evolution. Some, like Lewis H. Morgan...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - East Asia
History of astronomy - China. Ancient Chinese Astronomy dates back before Christ. Chinese Astronomers were to be able to predict comets...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - Mesopotamia
History of astronomy - Sumer. History of astronomy - Chaldea Babylonia. ... See also:History of astronomy, History of astronomy - A...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Spanish Conquest Of Yucatán: Encyclopedia Ii - Spanish Conquest Of Yucatán - The Peten Itza
The Itza Maya of the Peten region should be mentioned; while that area is now part of Guatemala, in colonial times it was part of the lan...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - Middle Ages
Greeks made some important contributions to astronomy, but the progress was mostly stagnant in medieval Europe, while it flourished in th...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - The Copernican Revolution
The renaissance came to astronomy with the work of Copernicus, who proposed a heliocentric system. His work was defended, expanded upon a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - Modern Astronomy
At the end of the 19th century it was discovered that, when decomposing the light from the sun, a multitude of spectral lines were observ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - Cosmology And The Expansion Of The Universe
Most of our current knowledge was gained during the 20th century. With the help of the use of photography, fainter objects were observed....   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Popol Vuh: Encyclopedia Ii - Popol Vuh - Overview
The book begins with the Maya civilization's creation myth followed by the stories of the Maya Hero Twins Hunahpu (Junajpu) and Xbalanque...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - New Windows Into The Cosmos Open
Late in the 19th century, scientists began discovering forms of light which were invisible to the naked eye: X-Rays, gamma rays, radio wa...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - Ancient History
Early cultures identifed celestial objects with gods and spirits. They related these objects (and their movements) to phenomena such as r...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Astronomy: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Astronomy - India
See also: Hindu astronomy There are astronomical references of chronological significance in the Vedas. Some Vedic notices mark the begin...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Lost City: Encyclopedia Ii - Lost City - North America
Lost city - Maya cities. very incomplete list. see Maya civilization Chichen Itza — ancient place of pilgrimage is still the most vi...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Maya: New Age Spiritual Dictionary On Maya
Maya 1.    That which does not exist and is illusory. The glamors, illusions, or delusions perceived by limited mind. ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yucatán: Encyclopedia Ii - Yucatán - History
Yucatán - Prehistory. Yucatán - Pre-Columbian era. Before the arrival of the Spanish in the area, the Yucatán was the home of the ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mesoamerican Chronology: Encyclopedia Ii - Mesoamerican Chronology - Pre-classic Era
c. 20th century BC - 2nd century AD The start of nation-states. The first large scale ceremonial architecture, development of cities. The...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mesoamerican Chronology: Encyclopedia Ii - Mesoamerican Chronology - Pre-classic Era
c. 20th century BC - 2nd century AD The start of nation-states. The first large scale ceremonial architecture, development of cities. The...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Lago De Atitlán: Encyclopedia Ii - Lago De Atitlán - Culture
The lake is surrounded by many villages, in which Maya culture is still prevalent and traditional dress is worn. The Maya people of Atitl...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Petén Department: Encyclopedia Ii - Petén Department - History
El Petén was already the site of ceremonial architecture by the Maya civilization around 500 BC. El Mirador is El Petén's most importan...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tikal: Encyclopedia Ii - Tikal - Tikal In The Classic Era
Tikal was one of the major cultural and population centers of the Maya civilization. Monumental architecture was built here as early as t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mayan Languages: Encyclopedia Ii - Mayan Languages - Relation To Mesoamerican Writing
The pre-Columbian Maya civilization developed and used an intricate and versatile writing system which, out of the various historical Mes...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mu Lost Continent: Encyclopedia Ii - Mu Lost Continent - Le Plongeon And Churchward
The idea of Mu first appeared in the works of the antiquarian Augustus Le Plongeon (1825–1908), a 19th century traveler and writer who ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tz'utujil: Encyclopedia Ii - Tz'utujil - The Tz'utujil People
The Tz'utujil date from the post-classic period (circa 900-1500 ) of the Maya civilization, inhabiting the southern watershed of Lake Ati...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Belize: Encyclopedia Ii - Belize - History
Main article: History of Belize The Maya civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and AD 300 and flourished until about AD 900. Th...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Sylvanus Morley: Encyclopedia Ii - Sylvanus Morley - Early Life
Sylvanus G. Morley was born in Chester, Pennsylvania[1]. After first studying civil engineering, he went on to attend Harvard University ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Palenque: Encyclopedia Ii - Palenque - The Maya Classic City
While the site was occupied by the middle Pre-Classic, it did not gain importance until several hundred years later. By 600 the first of ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Alta Verapaz: Encyclopedia Ii - Alta Verapaz - History
In Pre-Columbian times this area was part of the Maya civilization. When the Spanish Conquistadores came in the 1520s they conquered the ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tzompantli: Encyclopedia Ii - Tzompantli - Association And Meaning
Apart from their use to display the skulls of ritualistically-executed war captives, tzompantli often occur in the contexts of Mesoameric...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Howler Monkey: Encyclopedia Ii - Howler Monkey - Howlers And Humans
Howlers are seen in the art of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Alexander von Humboldt said that "their eyes, voice, and gait are ind...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Guatemala: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Guatemala - Pre-columbian Guatemala
The Maya civilization flourished throughout much of Guatemala and the surrounding region for close to 2000 years before the Spanish arriv...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of The Americas: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of The Americas - Civilizations
Civilizations were started long after migration. Several large, centralized civilizations developed in the Western Hemisphere (e.g., the ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hot Chocolate: Encyclopedia Ii - Hot Chocolate - History
The first users of cacao were most likely the Olmecs, a Native American people of Mesoamerica and the oldest civilization of The Americas...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Honduras: Encyclopedia Ii - Honduras - History
Main articles: History of Honduras, Timeline of Honduran history The Pre-Columbian city of Copán is a locale in extreme western Honduras...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Day Of The Dead: Encyclopedia Ii - Day Of The Dead - History Of The Day Of The Dead In Mexico
The origins of the celebration of The Day of the Dead in Mexico can be traced back to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, such as the...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Quetzalcoatl: Encyclopedia Ii - Quetzalcoatl - Antecedents
The name "Quetzalcoatl" literally means quetzal-bird snake or serpent with feathers (Amphitere) of the Quetzal (which implies something d...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Religion
Like the Aztec and Inca who came to power later, the Maya believed in a cyclical nature of time. The rituals and ceremonies were very clo...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Mathematics
The Maya used a base 20 numbering system (see Maya numerals). Also, they (or their Olmec predecessors) independently developed the concep...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Origins
Archaeological evidence shows the Maya had started to build ceremonial architecture by approximately 1000 BCE. There is some disagreement...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Agriculture
The ancient Maya had diverse and sophisticated methods of food production. It was formerly believed that slash and burn (swidden) agricul...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Religion
Like the Aztec and Inca who came to power later, the Maya believed in a cyclical nature of time. The rituals and ceremonies were very clo...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Origins
Archaeological evidence shows the Maya had started to build ceremonial architecture by approximately 1000 BCE. There is some disagreement...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Mathematics
The Maya used a base 20 numbering system (see Maya numerals). Also, they (or their Olmec predecessors) independently developed the concep...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Agriculture
The ancient Maya had diverse and sophisticated methods of food production. It was formerly believed that slash and burn (swidden) agricul...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - List Of Maya Sites
Maya civilization - Most important sites. Chichen Itza Coba Copán Kalakmul Palenque Tikal Uxmal Maya civilization - Other important...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - List Of Maya Sites
Maya civilization - Most important sites. Chichen Itza Coba Copán Kalakmul Palenque Tikal Uxmal Maya civilization - Other important...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Writing And Literacy
Maya civilization - Writing system. Main article: Maya hieroglyphics The Maya writing system (often called hieroglyphics from a vague...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Rediscovery Of The Pre-columbian Maya
The Spanish American Colonies were largely cut off from the outside world, and the ruins of the great ancient cities were little known ex...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Rediscovery Of The Pre-columbian Maya
The Spanish American Colonies were largely cut off from the outside world, and the ruins of the great ancient cities were little known ex...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Writing And Literacy
Maya civilization - Writing system. Main article: Maya hieroglyphics The Maya writing system (often called hieroglyphics from a vague...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Maya Civilization: Encyclopedia Ii - Maya Civilization - Political Structures
A typical Classic Maya polity was a small kingdom (ajawil, ajawlel, ajawlil) headed by a hereditary ruler – ajaw, later k’uhul ajaw. ...   » Read the article