Mayan Civilization Flashcards
Great epic detailing the mythology and history of the K’iche Maya. Much of our information about the Maya culture comes from this text.
Popol Vuh
English artist who explored the Yucatan and Central America region with the American explorer John Lloyd Stephens. He made very detailed and beautiful drawings of the Mayan ruins.
Frederick Catherwood
Stone block from Copan which displays 350 years of the Copan based polity’s history. It has inscribed onto it full body portraits of all 16 of Copan’s kings.
Altar Q
One of the rulers described in Altar Q who is known to have reigned in Copan during its golden age, with many sculptures and buildings being created. This patron of the arts was eventually defeated and beheaded by leaders of a much smaller polity.
18 Rabbit
Mayan religious and ceremonial calendar that followed a 260 day cycle.
Tzolkin
Mayan civil solar calendar that followed a 365 day cycle. This calendar and the Tzolkin were combined to form a calendar round based on when the two calendars would coincide.
Haab
Mayan calendar which recorded dates from the creation of the third world in 3000 BCE. This is the calendar that supposedly predicted the end of the world on December 21st 2012.
Long Count Calendar
Natural sinkhole filled with water which were the places where objects and humans were sacrificed to the Mayan gods. The most well known one of these is the ‘sacred’ one in Chichen Itza.
Cenotes
The largest of the stepped pyramids in Palenque, ordered to be created by the great Pacal himself.
Temple of the Inscriptions
Monarch of Palenque who reigned for 68 years, making him the 5th longest reigning king or queen in world history. He administered the creation of a plethora of significant architectural and artistic achievements in Palenque. Most famous Maya ruler.
Pacal the Great
1850 Rebellion of the Mayan population of the Yucatan peninsula against the European Mexican elite. Initially succeeded, with the Mayans creating a state based in Chan Santa Cruz that was recognized by Britain, however eventually the state was subdued by Mexico.
Caste War
Mayan center ruled by the Cocom dynasty. Ruled the Yucatan peninsula including Chichen Itza. This city’s namesake league was the main power of the Mayan region for a long time. This city’s name means ‘Standard of the Mayan People.’
Mayapan
General who conquered Chichen Itza and founded the Cocom dynasty of Mayapan. He reformed the League of Mayapan and is considered to be one of the greatest Mayan kings.
Hunac Ceel
Another great Mayan King of Palenque, who succeeded Pacal the Great. He continued his father’s ambitious building projects, and the Temple of the Cross was built to commemorate his rise.
Chan Bahlum II
Our primary sources on Mayan religious rituals and overall spiritual life comes from these 9 books, written in the Mayan language but using the Latin Script.
Chilam Balam
