Discuss three important achievements of the ancient Maya. Write your answer in English. You are permitted to use your curriculum to answer this cultural question in English. Please remember to list 3 achievements of the Mayan people. If 2 or less are written, points will be deducted.
Use some of this information: The Mayan Number System
Long before the Spanish arrived on American shores, a Native American people known as Maya had set up a very advanced civilization in parts of what is now México and Central America. Their empire, made up of city-states, had an economy based on agriculture and trade. It makes sense then, that they would have to develop some type of number system to keep track of their commercial transactions. And that's just what they did. The Maya people had a number system with three symbols for numbers, which roughly resemble a stone, a stick, and a shell. In addition, there was a symbol for 0, which served as a placeholder, just as 0 does in our system. The Maya is the first world civilization known to have a 0 and the system of placeholders. Unlike our system, though, the Maya system was based on 20, instead of 10. The symbols could be combined in different ways to form numbers from 0 to 19. (This is also different from our decimal system, which has numbers from 0 to 9.) With these combinations, they were able to make any positive integer and do arithmetical operations, such as addition, well into the millions.
Mayan Math
I said that the Maya people could do math operations into the millions. Let's see if we can do some, too. The Maya number system is a base 20 system. Here's how it works.
A pebble is worth one, and a stick is worth five. So, five pebbles make up one stick. Pebbles and sticks are put together in different combinations to make any number through 19. A shell is the symbol for 0 and serves as the placeholder. Look at the following examples:
Maya number Decimal number o \1 ooo 3 (1+1+1) \ 5 ooo \ 8 (1+1+1+5) \ 10 (5 + 5) oooo\ 19 (1+1+1+1 + 5+5+5)
The Maya: An Ancient Culture of the Americas
When you hear the words pyramid and hieroglyphics, what civilization comes to mind? Egypt? Another possible answer is the ancient Maya, who existed from about 2000 BC until the Spanish arrived. Even today, thousands of descendants of those early Maya make up a part of the populations of México, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. The Maya writing system was made up of about a thousand symbols, sometimes called glyphs, which corresponded more or less to syllables. Texts have been found inscribed on pottery, monuments, and paper made from a type of fig tree.
The Maya people also had a calendar, based on their advanced system of astronomy. They charted the movements of the moon and planets, and could even predict eclipses. Their architecture included cities with stone plazas, temples, and huge pyramids used for ceremonies and characterized by steps all the way up the four sides. Interesting features in some Maya cities are spacious courts for playing ball games. Large areas used for agriculture generally surrounded cities.
The Maya were also very artistic. Their ceramic and pottery work is decorated with figures of people, animals, and gods. They also used colorful feathers from the quetzal (a large bird that still exists in the area) to decorate the costumes of their chiefs and nobles.
The great Maya Empire had declined by the time the Spaniards arrived. There may have been several reasons for this, including wars and overuse of the land.
The Ruins of Copán
Western Honduras is home to one of the great archaeological sites in the Americas: the Maya ruins of Copán are among the most important archaeological sites of the ancient Maya civilization, located in the town of Copán Ruinas, Copán Department, Western Honduras area. Copán was a great city, which has given us a great deal of our information on the Maya culture.
Imagine that you are visiting the great ceremonial complex of Copán. One of the most important areas is the juego de pelota, or ball field. Actual ball games were played here, but for a ritual and ceremonial purpose. The ball games here could mean life or death.
At the end of the ball field you see a huge stone staircase engraved from top to bottom with hieroglyphics. These stairs, made of stone blocks, contain over 2,000 glyphs which together make up a long Maya text. We don't know what history is told by these glyphs, although we do know it has to do with a series of 16 great kings of Copán.
Next, you come to a large public square. This is the Plaza Mayor, an area used for ceremonies and social events. There are stands on three sides, for the public to watch the event. Between the Plaza Mayor and the juego de pelota is an area with three beautiful temples, including an impressive Temple of the Sun.
Lastly, you must visit the Museum of Maya Sculpture, with its collection of art found on the premises and its replicas of the temple and the ball field. Visitors to this impressive site come out with a sense of wonder and admiration for this extraordinary culture of the early Americas.
Honduran Handicrafts: Jade and Pottery
Buying handicrafts in Honduras is difficult—there are many of them, and they are so varied that there's bound to be something to suit every taste. Since my taste is for jewelry, let's start with that.
First, there's jade. This bright green stone has been used since the time of the Maya, and was even mentioned in their myths when the god of maize places three jade stones down at the creation of the world. Maya chiefs and nobles of the empire used jade ornaments to signify aristocracy, life, and power. In fact, ceramic pieces found by archeologists in royal burial sites often have three jade stones embedded in the item.
Jade is a hard stone, with different shades of translucent green. The Maya people used it for all sorts of ornaments, especially for jewelry. Today, you can still find jade jewelry made by local artisans and jewelers. Larger pieces become small statues and other decorative objects.
Pottery and ceramics are present everywhere in Honduras. One specific type of pottery, called Lencan pottery, is made by women in Lenca and other indigenous villages in the south. It is usually dark orange and decorated with different patterns. Lencan items range from simple pots and bowls to complex ceremonial pieces. Because of the great demand, this art form has evolved in many places to suit the taste of modern buyers.
Other Honduran Handicrafts
Handicrafts are an important part of the Honduran economy. Many artisans in Honduras train at special schools to learn the traditional crafts, while others are still taught by their parents. Handicraft cooperatives help with the design and sale of crafted goods. To make them, people use all sorts of materials, including wood, coconuts, plantain leaves, and plant fibers.
Wood, especially mahogany, is used to make furniture, trunks, and fruit bowls. Honduran mahogany is prized for its hardness and durability. In Copán, you can find mahogany replicas of Maya items, or objects with Maya motifs and designs.
Another popular material is leather, used to craft shoes, sandals, bags, jackets, and wallets. Hondurans also collect plantain leaves and other natural fibers, which are twisted, dyed, and woven to make baskets, glass holders, bags, hammocks, coin purses, rugs, and an endless array of items. Other craftspeople use rattan or bamboo for making not only small items like baskets, but also furniture.