9. Middle Classic

Question 1

Who is Sihyaj K’ahk

Answer 1

Sihyaj K’ahk is also known as “Fire is Born”

A warlord or general operating on behalf of
ruler of Teotihuacan

Oversaw replacement of kings of importan tMaya city-states with new rulers claiming
descent from Spearthrower Owl

He is depicted wearing Teotihuacano battle
dress

Question 2

Spearthrower Owl

Answer 2

Teotihuacan’s ruler, beginning
374 CE

Father of Yax Nuun Ayiin I (first new order ruler of Tikal post entrada)

Question 3

Yax Nuun Ahiin I

Answer 3

Spearthrower Owl’s son

First ruler of tikal following entrada (installed as 16th ruler)
ended Mutul dynasty.

Yaax Nuun Ahiin a boy when he
acceded the throne

Question 4

The Maya lowlands post Entrada

Answer 4

Teotihuacano art-styles appears

Increased trade and interaction between
Mexican Highlands and Maya area (Pachua, obsidian vessels)

Teotihuacan style architecture (talud tablero)

Founding of Copan dynasty in 426 CE by Yax K’uk’ Mo’

Question 5

Talud Tablero

Answer 5

Teotihuacan style of architecture

talud = slope
Tablero = panel perpendicular
to the ground

Together depict body of the
feathered serpent

Question 6

Founding of Copan Dynasty

Answer 6

Copan located southeast of tikal. (tikal basically in the centre of mayan lowlands)

Already an existing Maya city, Copán is re-founded as capital of new Maya kingdom in 426 CE by
Yax K’uk Mo

Question 7

Yax K’uk’ Mo’

Answer 7

first dynastic ruler of copan post entrada

Question 8

Temple 16, Copan/ Hunal

Answer 8

Dedicated to founder Yax K’uk’ Mo’

Multiple structures encased within
pyramid, with the earliest being a talud-tablero platform called “Hunal”

Hunal contained masonry tomb of Yax kuk Mo (At least 50 yrs old at time of death, he had jade laid incisors, cointains teotuhican offerings)

Question 9

Temple 16, Margarita

Answer 9

Built overtop of the Hunal structure

western wall stucco adorned with scarlet macaw and quetzal in the name of Yax Kuk Mo

within tomb, aged female thought to be yax kuk mo’s widow

Question 10

Temple 16, Rosalia

Answer 10

Particular emphasis on interweaving the sun god with yax kuk mo

Question 11

Rise of Kaanul (snake) dynasty

Answer 11

kaanu’l dynasty ruler of
Dzibanche city (North east of Tikal) by 408 CE

Pyramid of the owl located in Dzibanche. Pyramid contains tomb of unknown female ruler.

Question 12

Kaanu’l kings at
Dzibanche
Pre-600 CE

Answer 12

Kaanu’l kings established at Dzibanche

Tikal holds monopoly
over trade and power in the central region during the period

kaanul begins to establish allies around tikal in the east to increase power

Question 13

Kaanul Expansion

Answer 13

550 CE, Kaanu’l
“snake head” glyph starts
to be found across the
Lowlands, indicating expansion

The “Kaanu’l Expansion”
achieved via marriage
alliances, diplomacy, and
conquest

Question 14

Marriage: La Corona

Answer 14

Monument dated to 520 CE records arrival of Kaanul woman to marry local ruler

woman depicted with feline protector adorned with teotihuacan icons

Gives Kaanul dynasty a foot hold in region NW of Tikal.

Question 15

Naranjo and Caracol

Answer 15

Kaanul dynasty has hostile takeovers of naranjo and caracol in the fifth and sixth centuries expanding and consolidating their power east of Tikal

Question 16

Warfare: shifting alliances in tikal

Answer 16

series of pivotal events that lead to the downfall of tikal:
553 CE: Tikal is presiding
over royal accession of
Caracol king “Lord Water

556 CE: Tikal attacks Caracol

562 CE: Caracol and Kaanu’l attack and defeat Tikal

Kaanu’l King “Sky Witness” is credited with the defeat

Defeated Tikal King is “Wak
Chan K’awiil” (ruled 537-562 CE)

Question 17

Star War

Answer 17

defeat of tikal by the hands of kaanul and caracol recorded as first star war (decisive rival conflict between mayan polities)
the term comes from a specific glyph depicting a star showering the earth with liquid droplets

Question 18

Tikal association with teotihuacan

Answer 18

Defeated Tikal king Wak Chan K’awiil direct descendent of
Yax Nuun Ayiin (from “The
Entrada”

Question 19

K’inich Waaw

Answer 19

kinich waaw is the 22nd successor of the tikal, succeeding king wak chan k’awiil (likely placed on throne by kaanul king)

rules during tikal hiatus, wherein tikal loses its power and raises zero monuments for 130 years

Question 20

Dzibanche to Calakmul
The seat of Classic Kanu’l
shifts in 635 CE (yuknoom cheen)

Answer 20

The move from Dzibanche and Calakmul was a violent one, a conflict that can essentially
be characterized as a civil war

The reigning Snake king at Dzibanche, Waxaklajuun Ubaah Kaan, was defeated by a non-ruling Snake lord named Yuknoom Head, possibly the pre-accession name of Yuknoom Ch’een.

Yuknoom Ch’een’s accession to the throne of the Kanu’l kingdom is 58 days after the
victory of Yuknoom Head.

shortly thereafter, Yuknoom Ch’een moves the capital of the kingdom to Calakmul.

Waxakjalun Ubaah Kaan evidently spent four years as a captive, or on the run, before he
was put to death in 640