At the onset of large-scale construction, a predetermined axis was typically established in congruence with the cardinal directions. Depending upon the location and availability of natural resources such as fresh-water wells, or cenotes, the city grew by connecting great plazas with the numerous platforms that created the sub-structure for nearly all Maya buildings, by means of sacbeob causeways. As more structures were added and existing structures re-built or remodeled, the great Maya cities seemed to take on an almost random identity that contrasts sharply with other great Mesoamerican cities such as Teotihuacan and its rigid grid-like construction.
At the heart of the Maya city existed the large plazas surrounded by their most valued governmental and religious buildings such as the royal acropolis, great pyramid temples and occasionally ball-courts. Though city layouts evolved as nature dictated, careful attention was placed on the directional orientation of temples and observatories so that they were constructed in accordance with Maya interpretation of the orbits of the stars. Immediately outside of this ritual center were the structures of lesser nobles, smaller temples, and individual shrines: the less sacred and less important structures had a greater degree of privacy. Outside of the constantly evolving urban core were the less permanent and more modest homes of the common people.
Classic Era Maya urban design could easily be described as the division of space by great monuments and causeways. In this case, the open public plazas were the gathering places for the people and the focus of the urban design, while interior space was entirely secondary. Only in the Late Post-Classic era did the great Maya cities develop into more fortress-like defensive structures that lacked, for the most part, the large and numerous plazas of the Classic.
Architecture
As unique and spectacular as any Greek or Roman architecture, Maya architecture spans many thousands of years; yet, often the most dramatic and easily recognizable as Maya are the fantastic stepped pyramids from the Terminal Pre-classic period and beyond. These pyramids relied on intricate carved stone in order to create a stair stepped design. Each pyramid was dedicated to a deity whose shrine sat at its peak. During this "height" of Maya culture, the centers of their religious, commercial and bureaucratic power grew into incredible cities, including Chichen Itza, Tikal, and Uxmal. Through observation of the numerous consistent elements and
Many consider Maya art of their Classic Era (c. 200 to 900 a.d.) to be the most sophisticated and beautiful of the ancient New World. The carvings and stucco reliefs at Palenque and the statuary of Copán are especially fine, showing a grace and accurate observation of the human form that reminded early archaeologists of Classical civilization of the Old World, hence the name bestowed on this era. Today's handicrafts are still produced using ancient techniques and retain their importance within the Maya culture. Weaving has now become one of the Maya's best known features. Textiles made from cotton
San Cristóbal de las Casas is a city in the central highlands of state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is located in the Sierra Madre Mountains at 16.75°N 92.63°W, elevation 2100m. In 2003 the estimated population was 121,100 people.
The city was formerly known as "San Cristóbal"; the "de las Casas" was added in honor of Bartolomé de Las Casas, a Spanish priest who fought for the rights of the Native Americans. The city is well known for its beautiful colonial era architecture.
The city is located near the Tzotzil Maya communities of Chamula, and Zinacantán, and a half-day busride from the Classic
Origins
Archaeological evidence shows the Maya started to build ceremonial architecture approximately 3000 years ago. There is some disagreement about the borders and difference between the early Maya and their neighboring Pre-Classic Mesoamerican civilization, the Olmec culture. The Olmec and early Maya seem to have influenced each other.
The earliest monuments consist of simple burial mounds, the precursors to pyramids erected in later times.
Eventually, the Olmec culture faded after spreading its influence into the Yucatan peninsula, present-day Guatemala, and other regions
The Maya developed the famed cities of Tikal, Palenque, Copán and Kalakmul, as well as Dos Pilas, Uaxactun, Altun Ha, Bonampak and
Mathematics
The Maya (or their Olmec predecessors) independently developed the concept of zero, and used a base 20 numbering system (see Maya numerals). Inscriptions show them on occasion working with sums up to the hundreds of millions. The Maya counting system required only three symbols: a dot representing a value of one, a bar representing five, and a shell representing zero. These three symbols were used in various combinations, to keep track of calendar events both past and future, and so that even uneducated people could do the simple arithmetic needed for trade and commerce. That the Maya understood the value
This place has some reliques most remarkable in the world of a Antiken civilization. Up to now meant approximately from 300 Bc-600 remain the technical designers by Teotihuacan or the ' place of the Gods ' a secret. From, where they came, and why civilization is pure assumption disappeared. It seems that the city 250,000 persons can be accommodated, who were peace affectionate, but their influence to Guatemala undoes has. However the ' peace affectionate ' theory is constantly provoked. There are references of definite that the human victim long time with Teotihuacan before the
Subsistence
The ancient Maya had diverse methods of food production. It was formerly believed that slash and burn (swidden) agriculture provided most of their food but it is now thought that permanent raised fields, terraccing, forest gardens, managed fallows, and wild harvesting were also crucial to supporting the large populations of the Classic period. Indeed evidence of these different systems persist today: raised fields connected by canals can be seen on aerial photographs, contemporary rainforest species composition have significantly higher abundances of species of economic value to ancient Maya, and pollen records in lake sediments suggest that corn, manioc, sunflower seeds,
Building materials
A surprising aspect of the great Maya structures is their lack of many advanced technologies that would seem to be necessary for such constructions. Lacking metal tools, pulleys and perhaps even the wheel, Maya architecture required one thing in abundance: manpower. Yet, beyond this enormous requirement, the remaining materials seem to have been readily available. All stone for Maya structures appears to have been taken from local quarries; most often this was limestone which, while being quarried remained pliable enough to be worked with stone tools ... only hardening once removed from its bed. In addition to the structural
Maya mythology
The Maya religion was polytheistic and involved occasional sacrifice and other rituals. Maya rulers figured prominently in many religious rituals, and often were required to practice bloodletting, such as by using sculpted bone or jade instruments to perforate their penises or by drawing thorn-studded rope through their tounges.
Comitán (formally: Comitán de DomÃnguez) is a small city in the Mexican state of Chiapas. It is the seat of government of the municipality of the same name.
It is located near the border with Guatemala at 16.25°N 92.13°W. In 2003 the estimated population was 75,600 people.
The original name given by the Maya people is Balún Canán ("Nine stars"). It was later changed to Comitán de las Flores. Comitán de DomÃnguez is named after Dr. Belisario DomÃnguez, who gave a memorable speech in the Congress against the dictator Victoriano Huerta for which it was murdered.
