Mayas
Ancient Yucatán civilization
The Mayas are an indigenous people of southern Mexico and Central America, creators of one of the most advanced pre-Columbian civilizations.
Their achievements in mathematics, astronomy, architecture, and writing systems flourished for millennia.
Millions of Maya people and their languages persist today: The Mayas still inhabit the Yucatán Peninsula.
Also spelled Maya as both singular and plural.
Pre-Columbian archaeological site
Mesoamerican calendrical system
- tunLarge brewing cask
- almanacYearly data compilation
- eclipse predictionDetermining future celestial occultations
- solsticesAnnual solar standstill events
equinoxes · zero · astronomy · Dresden Codex · lunar cycles
Pre-Columbian Central American region
- YucatanSoutheastern Mexican peninsula
- city-statesSelf-governing urban territories
- hieroglyphsAncient Egyptian picture-writing
- codicesBound handwritten volumes
stelae · glyphs · trade routes · tribute · nobility · scribes · artisans · merchants
Cob-bearing cereal crop
- cacaoTropical pod-bearing tree
- terracingCutting slopes into steps
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- squashFlatten by pressure
beans · chili · avocado · papaya · tortillas · tamales · atole · slash-and-burn
Aztec feathered serpent god
- underworldRealm of the departed
- creation mythOrigin narrative of existence
- blood sacrificeRitual killing for deities
- ritualsCeremonial repeated practices
ceremonies · shamans · priests · incense · offerings · cenotes · ancestor worship
Chichen Itza
Pre-Columbian archaeological site
Long Count
Mesoamerican calendrical system
- tunLarge brewing cask
- almanacYearly data compilation
- eclipse predictionDetermining future celestial occultations
solstices · equinoxes · zero · astronomy · Dresden Codex · lunar cycles
Mesoamerica
Pre-Columbian Central American region
- YucatanSoutheastern Mexican peninsula
- city-statesSelf-governing urban territories
- hieroglyphsAncient Egyptian picture-writing
codices · stelae · glyphs · trade routes · tribute · nobility · scribes · artisans · merchants · warfare
maize
Cob-bearing cereal crop
- cacaoTropical pod-bearing tree
- terracingCutting slopes into steps
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
squash · beans · chili · avocado · papaya · tortillas · tamales · atole · slash-and-burn · harvest
Quetzalcoatl
Aztec feathered serpent god
- underworldRealm of the departed
- creation mythOrigin narrative of existence
- blood sacrificeRitual killing for deities
rituals · ceremonies · shamans · priests · incense · offerings · cenotes · ancestor worship
pyramids
Apex-topped geometric solids
limestone · stucco · altars · palaces · causeways · reservoirs · observatories · lintels · doorways · terraces
jade
Carved ornamental mineral
- obsidianGlassy igneous rock
- featherworkArt using bird plumes
- potteryFired clay objects
weaving · textiles · murals · sculpture · masks · jewelry · ceramics · figurines · bone carving · pigments
MayasHernán Cortés
Spanish Empire · Spaniards · conquistadors · Catholic missionaries
- Mayan ruinsAncient civilization's architectural remains
- Maya Angelou
- Maya civilizationAncient Mesoamerican culture
- Maya Rudolph
- Maya ruinsAncient civilization's remains
- Mayan calendarMesoamerican astronomical dating system