Introduction to Latin American Studies

Section 1: The Maya

Latin America consists of Central America, Mexico, and South America; each with a
common theme in their histories. They were all explored and conquered by a
European nation and this common bond is what unites Latin American people.

The Maya 200AD-900AD

• The Maya was the only civilization in Middle America that did not exist in
1492 when Spaniards came from Europe.
• The Maya are still active today, mainly in the same region. There are nearly
8 million. They have kept some of the same language and religious aspects
of the ancient Mayas.

The Mayan Empire expanded through what is today the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico
all the way down through the Petén region of Guatemala and the northern boarder
area of Honduras.

The Mayan Empire was divided into city states; each city state had its own
government as well as a governor.

The 5 most important city states are:

1. Chichen Itza (Mexico)
2. Uxmal (Mexico)
3. Palenque (Mexico)
4. Tikal (Guatemala)
5. Copan (Honduras)

The Mayas religious views differed from what most people believe today. The
Mayas believed that there were 3 levels of the world; and earthy level (the one we
live on), a celestial level (heaven-like), and an underworld. To the Mayas, the
celestial level had 13 sub layers and the underworld had 9 layers, each with a chief
god with other multiple gods to help rule. This underworld was known as Xibalba.

According to the Maya, when a person dies they would first go to the underworld
and then depending upon how strong the person was both physical, mentally, and
emotionally they would have to fight the gods in order to rise up to the celestial
level. The fight was their judgment. Those who did reach the upper most level of
the celestial level were the most important.

The Maya creation story (The Popol Vuh) states that the gods tried 3 times to make
humans.
1. The first humans they made from mud. They could not multiply and
spoke only nonsense.
2. The second humans they made from wood, however they had no
blood, no sweat, nothing in their minds, they have no respect for the
gods, and they did nothing but walk around. After a great
hurricane/flood, the animals and their pots and pans start to talk

The Maya Page 1

 back to them and attack them for being abused. Their faces were
crushed and their homes destroyed. This is said to be the reason why
monkeys look so much like humans.
3. The third humans were made from corn. This people seemed to be
perfect because they were made of matter, had thoughts, paid
homage to the gods using agriculture and sacrifice. These people are
the Mayas.

Like many other civilizations, the Mayas wrote text in accordion-like books,
however there are very few examples of these because Diego De Landa burned all
the books but later wrote a history of the Maya.

The Maya were also very skilled in mathematics and astronomy.

They had developed calendars as well.

• They had 3 calendars
o One was since the beginning of time, 3114 BC, cycle of 5200 years 
2012.
o The second was a 360 day spiritual calendar.
o The third was a daily function calendar with 365 days.
• They believed that there were 18 months, each with 20 days = 360 days,
with leap month for 5 days, occurring yearly.

Special Areas in the City States

• Chichen Itza
o El Castillo
 130 ft tall
 365 steps
 March 21/Sept 21Quetzalcoatl -serpent like sculpture- on the
sides of the steps seems to glow.
o Ball Court
 Largest in Chichen Itza
 Blue colored building
o Observatory
 Predicted circumference of the world within 200 miles
 Charted the exact path of Venus (584 days)
o Cenote
 Underground watering holes provided aquifers.
 They would sometimes throw things into these large holes
because the believed that they could be the entrance to the
underworld.

• Uxmal
o Pyramid of the Magicians
 Extensively featured the rain god Chacc.
 Thought honoring the god by adorning most of the buildings
with his figure would bring them water.

The Maya Page 1

 o Nunnery Complex
 Schooling area
o Palace of the Governor
 22000 stones
 13 doors thought to represent the 13 levels of the celestial
world.

• Palenque
o Main Palace
 Also had a watchtower and observatory.
o Temple of the Inscriptions
 Ruz1952:69 steps, tomb of Pakal
 1994: possible wife of Pakal (The Red Queen).

The Maya Page 1