Hist 231 Students. This post is for you.
Many aspects of Maya civilization developed slowly through a long Preclassic period, from about 2000 BC to AD 300. By the beginning of that period, Mayan-speaking Native Americans were settled in three adjacent regions of eastern and southern Mexico and Central America: the dry, limestone country along the north coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula; the inland tropical jungle in the Petén region of northern Guatemala; and an area of volcanic highlands and mountain peaks in southern Guatemala near the Pacific Ocean.
Describe any cultural, technological, religious, political , or agricultural practices/advances of the Maya civilization during the pre-classic period. What's the significance of this period in Maya history?
The Mayas were farmers. They worked as a community to cultivate their crops. They used pointed sticks to make holes to plant seeds. Advancement came as time elapsed and farming techniques improved to involve crop rotation, continous cultivation, the use of fertilizers and the introduction of household gardens and terraces.
ReplyDeleteThe preclassic period in Maya history is signifant because it sets the stage for future advancement/ achievement in Maya history such as the creation of unique art and architectual styles,the making of astonomical observation and the development of a system of hieroglyphics for recording significant events. It established the basic patterns of the ancient Maya life.
Minerva Balan-What strikes me the most about the advances of the Maya Civilization during the pre-classic period is the pyramids that they built. These structures were majestic and well thought out because of the way they were planned out as can be seen today in the ruins that still stand. It tells a lot of the intellectual capacities of these people. They were engineers and architects in a sense. They managed to create structures that have stood to the test of time and elements. This period to me, is of great significance because it is during this period that the building of these pyramids took place and these are still here today to help the present generations to learn of their existence - which in itself is history!
ReplyDeleteThe most important technological achievement of the Pre-Classic Maya was the domestication of maize and other agricultural crops. This allowed them to live in settled communities and produce a surplus of food. This production probably led to increased specialization of people’s roles and functions and the establishment of a hierarchical political organization of kinship-based chiefdoms. Advances in agriculture would have allowed for continuous growth in population and the beginnings of urban settlement. Important Pre-Classic sites in Belize include Lamanai, Cuello and Santa Rita.
ReplyDeleteThe development of mathematics and writing in the late Pre-Classic period indicate that certain people were devoted to their study instead of being preoccupied with growing food. The existence of this elite was important for the intellectual and technical advances of the later Maya.
The mayas were hard working people . Many aspects of the maya civilization was developed throught the pre classic period. The earliest mayas were farmers who lived in small scattered villages of thatch houses. The mayas main agriculture production was corn, they use a pointed stick to do holes in the ground . The women gounded the maize to do atole , a very well known drink known today espcially on the northern part of belize .
ReplyDeleteThey also planted beans , chilli peppers ,pineapple , and cacoa which was made into a chocalate drink.
shekeria the maya had play and importat role in our society today, they were the first inhabitant that was in our country and relocated to different part of the country, who was farmer, architect who can desing sulpture, they were also constracture who build and desing their own temple and was great mathematics who invent calender. they also rebel against the spanard with help us to be here today. the mayas was good at medicine and they also love the forest.
ReplyDeleteHello folks!
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yYvette its amazing how the acient Maya people had a diverse way and methods of food production. The one thing about the Maya they did rely anybody they self- reliance. The per - classic era was significant because around this time the Maya calendar which was called Mesoamerica came on board, the first written inscription in the Maya hieroglyphics also date this era, the Maya settlements or communities also began to develop in the northern Maya lowlands during the middle and late pre-classic. The growth in population increade in size, the trade network was propering, the centralization of political power especially held by rulers of individual politics. The Maya were excellent astronmers they observed the movements of the sun, moon, and planets, they made astronomical calculations, and devised calenders combined with astronomical observations. The observations were used to divine the movements for many kinds of activities, from farming to warfare. In the preclassic period the Maya used stone in building, they also used a smooth volcanic rock wre used to make weapons and tools. The economic and politic insitution were more advance in the southern highland areas. The Maya culture became associated with large cities containing ceremonial centers.
ReplyDeleteJoan - During the pre-classic period of the Maya, the emergent of sustaining life and its challenges were evitable as networking amongst a society began to identify a common interest - survival. These people were mainly farmers who planted corn(maize), pepper and cacao just to name a few. Stone axes, flint knife and grinding stone were their main used of technology, which aided then to clear fields for planted. Maya worked in construction, provided most of the labour for building of public structure such as small ruins.
ReplyDeleteFor progress to take place, leadership was necessary,and the elite of the society took control, such as the kings and nobles. They were scientists, technologists and religious leaders.
they created calenders and the number systems, and wrote on stone (stela). They traded salt and cacao and other value products.
However as progress came , the rebellion and changes, especially in the trade route, natural disaster, and power to control had created turmoil amongst their own kind. The struggle had just begun were the Maya had to dealt with their own personal, societal, and nature struggle to prolong their very own existent.
The Agricultural practices/advances of the Maya civilization during the pre classic period included the later adaptation of intensive farming techniques such as: continuous cultivation involving crop rotation, fertilisers, house gardens and terraces. Some of the Maya main crops included maize(corn),squash, beans, chillie pepper, avocados, pineapple, papayas and cacao. The Maya men hunted for deers, rabbit and turkeys that were use for making stews and they also hunted fish, the women were responsible for the grounding of the corn on grinding stones then they would mix the ground meal by adding water which as a result was a drink called atole. In addition to that it was also used to cook as corn tortillas. When the men weren't occupied with hunting they were busy making things such as: stone tools, jade carvings, ropes, baskets and other things. As for the women they were busy making pottery vessels which they painted and made from clay and wove clothing from cotton and leaves of the maguey plant.The Mayas were involved in trading where they use to carry their goods for trade over the narrow trails with tumplins or at times transported them in dugout canoes along the coast and rivers. As it pertains to technological practices/advances, during the pre- classic period the mayas were known for being astronomers who would observe the movement of the moon, sun and planet and would then make astronomical calculations which they would then use to invent calendar based on astronomical observations. In this era many enormous pyramids, buildings and temples were constructed. They began using stones in buildings. For the Mayas this era is significant in the Maya history because this period was a period of magnificent achievements and it signifies the establishment of the Maya life. Many aspects of the Mayas were developed during this period.
ReplyDeleteThe indigenous Maya men were very technically skilled and perform Intensive farming techniques such as continuous cultivation. They also built raised fields in seasonal swamps. When they were not hunting, fishing, or in the fields, Maya men made stone tools, clay figurines, jade carvings, ropes, baskets, and mats.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, the amazing Maya commoners, directed by Rulers and nobles, increasingly used stone in building huge pyramids in major settlements. These pyramids are among the largest constructions in the ancient Maya world. During the Pre classic period the basic patterns of ancient Maya life were established. Both nobles and commoners lived in extended family compounds. Along with their families, they composed an elite segment of society, enjoying the privileges of high social rank.
The remarkable Maya women grounded corn on specially shaped grinding stones and mixed the ground meal with water to make a drink known as atole ormade their favorite corn tortillas. They did not just sit home and wait for their husband’s daily gatherings, instead, they made painted pottery vessels out of clay, wove ponchos, men's cloths, and women's skirts, out of fibers made from cotton or from the leaves of the maguey plant.
The first inhabitants of the Wesern hemesphere is said to be the Mayas. It is said that in the Pre Classic period that the Mayas settled down in this same hemisphere and began planting.
ReplyDeleteThe Mayas in this period, prepared their plandted are by clearing in down and used pointed sticks to make holes in the ground to place the seeds of their crops. The Mayas crops consisted of corn beans and other plants just to name a few.
Due to the domestication of the plants, the mayas were required to stay in one location so as to tend to the fields. This then lead to the birth of the first Mayan Settlements.
It is my belief, that the significance of this period is the building block/foundation of the Mayan culture. Due to the birth of the Mayan communities in the Western Hemisphere made it possible for all the innovative inventions, architecture and artifacts that the Mayas accomplished within the next two periods. These spectacular artifacts architectural sites such as their pottery, ruins, jade, ets are treasured dearly today.
It has always amazed me to see how the Maya were able to build such elaborate and unique buildings with the use of very simple and primitive tools. They were able to build many roads, buildings, towns and cities. Maya builders used stone blocks cut with stone – headed hammers. They built roads called ‘sache’ to connect towns, cities and groups of buildings. These roads were mostly used for ceremonies when a new building was inaugurated or when a King was crowned. Due to the unavailability of horses and cattle they carried heavy loads on their back. They also used plaster to coat buildings and to make decorations. The artists would paint scenes on the walls or made sculptures that told the history of their gods and kings. Their level of architectural competence, as well as these scenes, can be viewed at the many archeological sites that now remain in the territories they once inhabited.
ReplyDeletePamela said:
ReplyDeleteThe indigenous Maya men were very technically skilled and perform Intensive farming techniques such as continuous cultivation. They also built raised fields in seasonal swamps. When they were not hunting, fishing, or in the fields, Maya men made stone tools, clay figurines, jade carvings, ropes, baskets, and mats.
In addition, the amazing Maya commoners, directed by Rulers and nobles, increasingly used stone in building huge pyramids in major settlements. These pyramids are among the largest constructions in the ancient Maya world. During the Pre classic period the basic patterns of ancient Maya life were established. Both nobles and commoners lived in extended family compounds. Along with their families, they composed an elite segment of society, enjoying the privileges of high social rank.
The remarkable Maya women grounded corn on specially shaped grinding stones and mixed the ground meal with water to make a drink known as atole ormade their favorite corn tortillas. They did not just sit home and wait for their husband’s daily gatherings, instead, they made painted pottery vessels out of clay, wove ponchos, men's cloths, and women's skirts, out of fibers made from cotton or from the leaves of the maguey plant.