Characteristics Of The Mayans

Sen knows as Mayans an ancient culture of Mesoamerica, (one of the most extensive and widespread cultures and with the most population; This culture covered a wide territory that included present-day Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and some of the southern states of Mexico (Chiapas, and Yucatán.

It is a very advanced culture for its time and that at the time diversified several languages, had a numbering with zero and was able to predict eclipses, this culture also came to be known as the period agricultural.

This culture apparently existed for approximately 3000 years and today there are places that preserve part of their culture.

Characteristics and main aspects of the Mayans and their culture:

The Mayans were an advanced culture that existed before the arrival of the Spanish, it is estimated that this culture began from 1000 years BC to 320 AD.

1.- Its architecture

The Mayans had the ability to build cities and although some were already found abandoned at the time of the conquest; It was evident that they covered an immense territory and their culture widely dominated the area and they learned to live in the jungle.

As builders, they were excellent architects, as their buildings are currently standing and revealed great aspects of their culture.

Main constructions of the Mayans:

• The Pyramid of Kukulcan "EL Castillo"
• The ball game
• The Observatory "El Caracol"
• The Temple of the Descending God
• The Temple of the Jaguar
• The Temple of the Warriors

2.- Your clothing

The clothing of the Mayans was very important and was distinguished by ornaments, nose piercings, embroidered dresses for women and embroidered capes for men, but no hierarchies were known in relation to the clothing.

3.- Your diet

The diet of the Mayans was mainly vegetarian, and the meat they consumed was obtained through hunting because domestication was very limited.

4.- The language of the Mayans

The Mayans had more than 30 dialects, which apparently had a common origin; These languages ​​derived from the current Mayan, which is used at the same time by its speakers.

5.- Medicine

In this sense, their medicine was mainly herbal medicine, although it was complemented with mythology and supernatural aspects of their religions as they were rituals.

6.- Astronomy

The astronomy of the Mayans was very advanced for its time, and it allowed them to predict astronomical phenomena such as eclipses, (in pre-Columbian America, it was one of the most accurate predictions).

7.- Mayan society

Mayan society focused mainly on lineages; For the Mayans it was very important to know their lineage, since in their culture this greatly influenced the proportion of the land and perhaps the social and governmental position.

8.- The Mayan government

The government was basically theocratic and power rested with a single person, who enjoyed absolute power. It is currently unknown if there was any type of election or if the selection of the ruler was by lineage or reign.

9.- Your religion

The Mayans were polytheists and as a religious act they apparently buried their dead in their own home; Although it was a purely speculative conclusion, it is believed that they were buried to protect them or to protect them.

Among their main gods were:

• The god of war (Buluc Chabtan)
• The god of rain (Chac)
• The god of bees (Ah Mozenkab)
• The god of its rulers or kings (Bolon Dzacab)
• The god of the underworld (Chac bolay)
• The god of corn (Ah Mon)
• The god of the market (Itzamna)
• The sun god (Ahau kin)
• The Goddess of the Moon (Ix chel)

The Mayans were also the creators of a numbering in base 20, which already had the number zero, an aspect that allowed them to make their astronomical predictions more precisely, and it is even estimated that its precisions were the most accurate in all of America pre-colonial.

Follow with:

• Characteristics of the Aztecs