Diego De Landa

“In the Western Hemisphere, no early culture was more remarkable than the Mayans” (Background Essay). The Mayans were an adept civilization and accomplished many exceptional things during their time. Their deeds include things such as a number system, immense cities, and a vast trade network but there is no Mayan achievement more remarkable than their calendars. The Mayans created three calendars: a sacred calendar called tzolkin, a solar calendar called haab, and a long cycle calendar.

The letters read like he was able to speak to Moctezuma directly. He never mentions Malintzin by name (Seven Myths, 87). Cortés is remembered as this brilliant strategist who skillfully thought to use interpreters. This was not original or unique to Cortés or even to the Spanish. Acquiring interpreters was a routine part of conquest that dated back before Cortés (Seven Myths, 23-24).

The Mayans were a civilization that lived in modern day Central America, also known as Mesoamerica, for around 3,000 years. They survived by growing corn, beans and squash by using slash-and-burn agriculture, cutting down and burning old crops. Over time, the Mayans created the most intellectually innovative cultures known to mankind. Using the criteria of genius, scale, effort, and genius, what was the most significant Mayan achievement? Of the four leading achievements such as their number system, trade system, calendars, and the creation of the Mayan city, the building of the Mayan city was the most significant.

Before advanced technology, the Mayan observed the “Seven Stars” Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn using positional and horizon astronomy just like the Greeks and Mesopotamians before them. Although the Mayans observations were made with the naked eye they still had many interpretations associated with the sun and moon. They also independently discovered octa eteris, a mesh between eight solar years with five Venus cycles of 584 days and 99 lunar months. Mayan warfare was also scheduled to get the most astrological benefits. To the Mayan astronomy was a sacred activity.

The collapse of the Mayan Empire is one of history’s greatest mysteries. It was one of the most advanced and developed civilizations of its time period, reining during the Pre-Classic period and into the Classic and Post-Classic Periods (2000 B.C. – 900 A.D.). The territory stretched from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, down to modern day El Salvador in Central America. Its achievements were monumental for the era, being the first empire communicating with the use of a written language having over 800 symbols and producing the first 365 day calendar. They maintained an in-depth understanding of astrological cycles that would assist in planning harvesting cycles and predicting solar eclipses. The Mayan’s

The reader gets a rare and exotic understanding of a totally foreign and ancient culture experiencing the growing pains of colonial expansion during the British domination

What happened to the Mayan civilization before it mysteriously collapsed is still a mystery, but heart-stopping achievements were made. Throughout 3000 years the Native tribe of the Maya inhabited México, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras until the Spanish arrived. They were so secluded from anyone else, that they could not learn information from other tribes and they came up with all ideas themselves.(BGE) Trade routes, the creation of beautiful cities, establishing the number system and developing three calendars we all breathtaking achievements accomplished by the Mayan culture. Using scale, effort, genius, and significance four achievements will be argued about which was the most remarkable. Obviously the development

They used a positional system based on the number 20 rather than 10. As Document C shows us, they even had symbols for the numbers 1, 5, and 0 which helped differentiate. They made use of this system by incorporating it into the calendars i talked about earlier. The Mayans were one of the first cultures in the world to develop the idea of the zero. This evidence proves that this achievement was remarkable because it was genius.

The Mayans were hardworking people who lived in Mesoamerica. A thousand years ago before the spanish arrived, the maya built a great civilization. What many seem to question is what was so remarkable about what this group did.The four criterias scale, genius, physical effort and significance will be examined to see which was actually remarkable. People today argue over which Mayan achievement was the greatest - the trade network, numbers, calendars, and city-buildings , however true to say is that the building cities was the achievement that set the group off to great contributions.

“For evidence that the notion of Europeans introducing ‘civilization’ to the Americas is a lie, one need only look at the Aztec and Mayan peoples.” The Mayan civilization began prospering at around 900 BC - AD 300. The Mayas were extremely inventive with a interesting and vivacious culture. They erected are religious enters and communities and created advanced watering systems for irrigation and water storage. By 300 AD the Mayan city of Tikal had at least 20,000 people, including farmers and laborers used to create large temples for religious devotion decorated by skilled artisans. The ruling class was an elite group who claimed to be descendants from gods, not to completely unlike the monarchy or bourgeoisie in Europe. One of the most well know inventions of the Mayans was the calendar which they used to record noteworthy accounts such as historical events and predictions of solar and lunar eclipses, done so with remarkable accuracy. The Mayans were so advanced that they developed their own form of written language called hieroglyphics allowed the further progression and movement of ideas, creating a complex society.

The Mayan number system is their most remarkable achievement. In document C it says”They were one of the first cultures in the world to develop the idea of zero.” Document C also says”The Maya used a positional system based on 20 rather than 10.” The first piece of evidence shows that The Mayan number system is their most remarkable achievement. The second

After being surrounded and about lose everything he has worked for, they somehow come to agreement to become allies fighting against the Aztecs. Cortes and his people spent a month there getting to know and becoming friends with the Tlaxcalans. The poor city had no items to contribute to the Spanish but their people and army. Hernando decided he should try to scare and intimidate the Aztecs before approaching them. Cholula, a bordering city and an Aztec influence, was one of the most important cities of Mexico. It being a poor, deprived city based on religion, it was one of the most prestigious places for the Aztecs. The Spanish start by killing some of the low class nobles, then threatening important people in the society. After no reaction, Cortes and his army slaughter every person in their sight and burn the city. He bluntly told Moctezuma that the people disrespected him and not to be scared if he welcomes him with reverence and gold. The Spanish, after trying to teach a lesson and three long months since being here, were ready to enter the largest city in the world. Hernando Cortes was about to approach his biggest adventure yet, the Aztecs.

The Long Count calendar was calibrated by means to record major events such as those described from glyphs on stelae. Starting around the 1960’s archaeologists and researchers turn their focus to the hieroglyphs left behind by the Maya. Due to the increase of study of the hieroglyphs, researchers hit a turning point in what they mistakenly knew about the Maya. Like J. Eric Thompson, Carnegie Institution of Washington archaeologist, many early explorers would have thought that the Mayan society was very peaceful. This declaration was mistaken since at the time there was little to no understanding of the Mayan hieroglyphs. Today, with the understanding of most Mayan writing, archaeologists have concluded that the Maya were warrior-like people with a very active community who took place in battles, sacrificial ceremonies, and even

The Classical Maya was lost to the archaeological records until the last 200 years due to it’s abandonment. When the Mayans left there great cities, thick vines and jungles overtook the great monuments they once built. But in the last 200 years, in depth research has lead to breakthroughs into what the Classic Maya was like. The earliest Mayans were agriculturalist, growing crops such as corn (maize), beans, squash and cassava. The Mayans also invented a very accurate calendar, a math code using 0’s, constructed buildings still intact today, and a writing system that took decades to decode. The Mayans were situated in one geographical block covering all of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico), modern-day Guatemala, Belize, parts of the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas, and the western part of Honduras and El Salvador. Due to their location on the

The breathtaking splendor of ornate cites, the beautifully constructed grand temples, and the ingeniously developed and advanced caledretics, mathematics, and astronomy easily mark one of the most interesting and prosperous periods in Latin American history. Over period spanning approximately six centuries, the Maya of Central America reached artistic and intellectual heights that no other group in the New World had seen