The Maya Civilization: Rise & Fall Explained

[00:00:00]This video is brought to  you by Captivating History.  Early Maya Civilization Of late, there has been   renewed interest in the Mayan civilization, much  of it coming in 2012 when many thought the end of   the Mayan calendar would coincide with the end  of civilization. What did the Mayans know when   they created their calendar? Why and how did this  captivating ancient civilization rise and fall?   Join us as we take a concise look at the most  influential civilization in Mesoamerica: the Maya.  From around 40,000 to 20,000 BCE, people  crossed over from the land bridge between   modern-day Alaska and Siberia into North America.  They moved south in search of a warmer climate,   better hunting grounds, and more bountiful  plant life. They settled in modern-day   Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula from around 10,000 to  8,000 BCE, also inhabiting southeastern Mexico,   the Yucatan, and northwest Central America. The Mayan highlands, lowlands, and coastal areas   were plentiful in natural and mineral resources,  such as obsidian, jade, and fish. Agriculture   took root around 6,000 BCE, leading to a massive  food surplus, which, in turn, led to population   growth. The early Maya civilization formed around  these resources, and their culture blossomed.  1500 BCE to 250 CE was known as the Pre-classic  period. Tribal villages evolved into tribal   chiefdoms and then into the early Mayan states.  This began in 1700 BCE when pottery developed,   which made trade much easier. This trade,  between groups in Mexico and Central America,   led to the birth of an elite class, a ruling class  that would exert control over the lower classes,   and characterized society’s structure for  many civilizations to come. This hierarchy   trickled down, leading to the formation of petty  chiefdoms, in which a central village would hold   power over smaller hamlets. Around the 1200s  BCE, the advanced Mayan villages became involved   in regional trade, putting them in contact  with other societies, including the Olmecs.  The Mayans then adopted aspects of Olmec society,  including their gods, urbanism, rituals, and art.   As wealth and power accumulated, strong cities  evolved from chiefdoms to proto-states, and with   proto-states came warfare. Mayan rulers found they  could raid other groups to gain wealth, labour,   and eliminate challengers. Around this time, the  lowlands Maya expanded from riversides and lakes   to the interior, and central Mayan influence then  expanded to the Highlands area around 800 BCE.  The early Mayan states formed around 400 BCE in  Kaminaljuyu, El Ujuxte, and El Mirador, owing to   their increased status to warfare and trade.  The evolution of the Mayan state took place,   for the most part, within the formation of these  regions, evident in the prestigious and grand   buildings built during this time period. For  example, the La Danta pyramid was the largest   pyramid in early Mayan civilization—and  in all ancient Mesoamerica—built in the   lost city of Mirador and standing at 236 feet. Warfare abounded within these states, uprisings   were commonplace, and no state was immune from it.  Additionally, volcanic eruptions, overpopulation,   and overuse of the soil are believed to have  led to the decline of early Maya civilizations,   around 150 CE. The Golden Age  As the prominence of the Pacific Coast Maya  decreased, that of the Lowlands Maya increased.   With El Mirador’s fall, art, writing, and the  Mayan population advanced in the lowlands, and the   city of Tikal (in present-day Guatemala) rose in  influence and power. With an estimated population   of 100,000, Tikal expanded its influence in the  surrounding areas to become a powerful state.  The major political and economic question  during this time concerned the rivalry between   the states of Tikal and Calakmul. Tikal’s loss  of prominence, after a long war with Calakmul,   left a power vacuum in which many states  asserted their independence; Calakmul emerged   as the most powerful Mayan state of its day. It was a time of great cultural and intellectual   growth, mostly in astronomy and developing the  famous Mayan calendar. However, few empires   last forever. The major cities of Tikal and  Calakmul collapsed around the 9th century CE,   due to near-constant warfare and ecological  factors; cities were abandoned, reverting to   small villages, and ending the Mayan Golden Age. From the Golden Age to the Age of Disaster  The collapse of the southern lowland cities  resulted in a power shift to the Mayans of   the Yucatan peninsula. During this period, known  as the Terminal Classic era, older pre-classical   cities took power, and Mayan civilization became  more Pan-Mesoamerican. During this era, the   world-famous Chichen Itza (meaning, "At the mouth  of the well of the Itza") came to prominence. Its   location in the northern Yucatan peninsula,  and the resulting reliance on maritime trade,   led to its increased prominence in this period. As Chichen Itza gained prominence, it became   the center of a Mesoamerican trade network.  Simultaneously, the ruling hierarchy eroded,   and society became more democratic. With  these changes, the Terminal Classic era ended,   and the Post-Classic era began. Chichen Itza was  not to last as a power center, declining in the   mid-11th century owing to devastating wars; by  1100 CE, its position as a great power was gone.  As Mayan influence declined, the Aztecs to  the north became more influential. When the   Spanish conquistadors arrived at Montezuma,  the leader of the Aztecs tried to convince   all Maya to unite against the Spanish, but  by 1530, the failure to unite against a   common threat led to the Highlands and Pacific  Coast Mayans being conquered by the Spanish.  Throughout 1527 to 1530, the Yucatan  Mayans fought bravely against the Spanish,   defeating them in 1535. Yet, reinforcements kept  arriving from Spain, and by 1546, following a   last-ditch resistance effort, the Spanish had  conquered all Mayan territory. The conquest   proved disastrous to the pre-Columbia Mayans;  ninety percent of their population died from   European diseases, war, and slavery, and by 1697,  the civilization fell, finally lost to history.  Mayan Government There were varying   political systems in different Mayan societies.  In Chichen Itza, in the Late Post-Classic era,   a “multepal” joint rule system was in effect,  in which the royal family jointly governed. The   elites made up ten percent of the population, and  the middle class consisted of mostly low-level   priests, soldiers, and merchants. Below the middle  class, commoners were both farmers or laborers.  All scholars agree that the monarchs were the  ultimate rulers of Mayan states. They came from   royal dynasties, basing their power on control  of resources, such as obsidian. The fates of   rulers were shakier than what they led their  people to believe; bad omens, such as drought,   could threaten their reign. Capturing or  sacrificing a Mayan king could mean disaster   for a Mayan city, yet, despite their eventual  decline, these rulers had unquestionable power.  Mayan Warfare Warfare served an important   function and was a constant way of life for the  Mayans. Mayan kings were fierce war captains,   depicted as wearing trophy heads on their  belts to symbolize sacrificed prisoners.   One of the most important figures in warfare  was the “nacom,” a chief military strategist   responsible for gathering and organizing armies.  Only the elite could be officers; soldiers   were always the commoners or middle class. A common weapon used by the Mayans was the   “atlatl,” or spear, and could effectively  hit a target from 150 feet away. Spiked or   bladed spears, axes, and clubs were  also used. Ax or club-armed soldiers   supported spearmen or were used for raids. Research suggests Mayan soldiers fought out   of formation due to jungle terrain. The order of  battle involved an initial volley from spears and   arrows followed by hand-to-hand combat. The Maya  engaged in warfare to expand their territory,   control trade routes, and acquire  prisoners for sacrifices to the gods.

[00:09:09]Mayan Society Religion was prevalent in Mayan life,   affecting everything from trade to agriculture.  The ruler was the chief priest, who would make   sacrifices and perform rituals to appease the  gods. Human blood was the most potent offering;   however, human sacrifices were only reserved  for special occasions such as coronations of   rulers or when a new temple was blessed. These  sacrifices often took place in challenging times,   such as disease outbreaks and famines. The religion of the Mayans was polytheistic,   and—not surprisingly—there were 250 names for  Mayan deities, the most important being the Mayan   god, Itzamna—the supreme deity. The gods existed  in the Upperworld (known as the “sky realm”), and   in the Underworld. The Mayan religious life was  a rich and varied part of their ancient culture.

[00:10:05]The Lasting Influence of the Mayans The Spanish invasion did not totally eradicate   the Mayans, as is commonly believed. After the  Spanish conquest, the remaining 10 percent of   the Maya were gathered up and put in Spanish  style settlements where they were expected to   convert to Catholicism. Aspects of Mayan culture  survived and were mixed with Catholic practices.  The Maya survive to this day, yet they face  challenging conditions. Rainforests have   been destroyed, and the Maya no longer have  control of their farms. Mayan areas are now   world-famous tourist destinations, ensuring  the survival of Mayan culture, providing a   means of earning a living for many Mayans. The  complex and intricate Mayan history stands to   this day as a testament to one of the greatest  Central American civilizations to ever exist.  To discover more about the history of the  Maya, then check out our book, Maya History:   A Captivating Guide to the Maya Civilization,  Culture, Mythology, and the Maya Peoples’ Impact   on Mesoamerican History. It’s available as an  e-book, paperback, and audiobook. Also, grab your   free mythology bundle e-book for free while it is  still available. All links are in the description.   If you enjoyed the video, please hit the like  button and subscribe for more videos like this.