Maya
Total population
6 million
Regions with significant populations
Parts of modern-day countries of El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras
Languages
Mayan languages, Spanish, Kriol and English
Religions
Christianity (predominantly Roman Catholic), Maya religion,

Maya civilization

Languages | Peoples Architecture | Calendar Human sacrifice | Mythology Peoples | Religion Society | Textiles Pre-Columbian Music Trade | Writing

Maya history

Classic Maya collapse Spanish conquest of Yucatán

The Maya peoples constitute a diverse range of the Native American peoples of southern Mexico and northern Central America. El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. Belizean Creole, known as Kriol by its speakers is a Creole language closely related to Miskito Coastal Creole, Limón Coastal Creole, English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Nowadays the Maya religion of Chiapas and Yucatan (Mexico Guatemala Belize and western Honduras is full of tensions between the traditional ancestral religion the 're-invention The Maya civilization is a Mesoamerican Civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the Pre-Columbian Americas As unique and spectacular as any Ancient Egypt, Greek or Roman architecture, Maya architecture spans several thousands of years The Maya calendar is a system of distinct Calendars and Almanacs used by the Maya civilization of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and by Human sacrifice is the act of Homicide (the Killing of one or several Human beings in the context of a Religious ritual ( ritual killing Maya mythology is part of Mesoamerican mythology and comprises all those Mayan tales in which personified forces of nature deities and the heroes interacting with these play the main Nowadays the Maya religion of Chiapas and Yucatan (Mexico Guatemala Belize and western Honduras is full of tensions between the traditional ancestral religion the 're-invention Maya society shared many features with other Mesoamerican civilizations for there was a high degree of interaction and Cultural diffusion throughout the region Knowledge of Mayan textiles is limited mostly to Elite ceremonial costumes nonetheless their clothing has significant representation in the complexities of their culture The Music that was central to Pre-Columbian Maya culture still remains a bit of a mystery today During the height of the Maya civilization, trade was a crucial factor in maintaining cities The Maya script, also known as Maya hieroglyphs, was the writing system of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization of Mesoamerica, presently The Classic Maya Collapse refers to the decline and abandonment of the Classic Period Maya cities of the southern Maya lowlands of Mesoamerica between the The Spanish Conquest of Yucatán was the campaign undertaken by the Spanish Conquistadores ' against the Late Postclassic Maya states and For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The overarching term "Maya" is a convenient collective designation to include the peoples of the region who share some degree of cultural and linguistic heritage; however the term embraces many distinct populations, societies and ethnic groups who each have their own particular traditions, cultures and historical identity.

There are an estimated 6 million Maya living in this area at the start of the 21st century. The 21st century is the current century of the Christian Era or Common Era in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Some are quite integrated into the modern cultures of the nations in which they reside, others continue a more traditional culturally distinct life, often speaking one of the Mayan languages as a primary language.

The largest populations of contemporary Maya are in the Mexican states of Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Chiapas, and in the Central American countries of Belize, Guatemala, and the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador. Yucatán is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucatán Peninsula. Campeche is the name of both a state in Mexico and its capital city Quintana Roo (kinˈtana ˈro is a state of Mexico, on the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula. Tabasco is a state in Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Veracruz to the west Chiapas to the south and Campeche to the Chiapas is the southernmost state of Mexico, located towards the southeast of the country Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America.

The Yucatán Peninsula

The largest group of modern Maya can be found on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. The Yucatán Peninsula, in Southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. They commonly identify themselves simply as "Maya" with no tribe (unlike in the Highlands of Western Guatemala), and speak the language which anthropologists term "Yucatec Maya", but is identified by speakers and Yucatecos simply as "Maya". A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally consists of a Social group existing before the development of or outside of States Many anthropologists use Yucatec Maya ("Maaya T'aan" in the revised Orthography of the Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala) is a Mayan language spoken in Among Maya speakers Spanish is commonly spoken as a second or first language.

The Yucatán's indigenous population was first exposed to Europeans after a party of Spanish shipwreck survivors came ashore in 1511. One of the sailors, Gonzalo Guerrero, is reported to have started a family and taken up a position of counsel among a local polity near present-day Chetumal. Gonzalo Guerrero (also known as Gonzalo Marinero, Gonzalo de Aroca and Gonzalo de Aroza) was a sailor from Palos, in Spain who Chetumal ( Chactemàal which means "Place of the red wood" Modern Maya) (coordinates) is a city on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula Later Spanish expeditions to the region (Córdoba in 1517, Grijalva in 1518 and Cortés in 1519) resulted in numerous conflicts and open warfare. Juan de Grijalva (born around 1489 in Cuéllar - January 21 1527) was a Spanish Conquistador. Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro 1st Marqués del Valle de Oaxaca ( 1485&ndash December 2, Vulnerability to European diseases and conflicts with the Spanish eventually reduced the Yucatec Maya population to less than 10,000 by 1850. For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link Those in the jungles of Quintana Roo to the east were more cut off from the Spanish, enabling them to survive more easily. Quintana Roo (kinˈtana ˈro is a state of Mexico, on the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula. Historically, the population in the eastern half of the peninsula was less affected by and less integrated with Hispanic culture than those of the western half. Today in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexican States of Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo) between 750,000 - 1,200,000 people speak Mayan. However three times more than that are from Mayan origins but they do not speak their native language, but they hold ancient Mayan last names such as: Ak, Can, Chan, Be, Cantun, Dzib, Canche, Chi, Chuc, Coyoc, Hoil, Hau, May, Tamay, Ucan, Pool, Zapo, etc.

A large 19th century revolt by the native Maya people of Yucatán (Mexico), known as the Caste War of Yucatán, was one of the most successful modern Native American revolts; results included the temporary existence of the Maya state of Chan Santa Cruz, recognized as an independent nation by the British Empire. The Caste War of Yucatán (1847&ndash1901 began with the revolt of native Maya people of Yucatán ( Mexico) against the population of European descent Chan Santa Cruz or U Noh Kah Balam Nah Chan Santa Cruz is the Maya town now known as Felipe Carrillo Puerto in what is now the Mexican The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power.

Chiapas

Chiapas was for many years one of regions of Mexico that were least touched by the reforms of the Mexican Revolution. Chiapas is the southernmost state of Mexico, located towards the southeast of the country The Mexican Revolution (Revolución Mexicana was a major armed struggle that started with an uprising led by Francisco I The Zapatista Army of National Liberation, which launched a rebellion against the Mexican state in Chiapas in January 1994, declared itself to be an indigenous movement and drew its strongest and earliest support from Chiapan Mayans, a number of whom still support it today. The Zapatista Army of National Liberation ( Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN) is an armed Revolutionary group based in Chiapas Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar)

Maya groups in Chiapas include the Tzotzil and Tzeltal, in the highlands of the state, the Tojolabales, concentrated in the lowlands around Las Margaritas, and the Ch'ol in the jungle. The Tzotzil Maya of the central highlands of the Mexican state of Chiapas are an indigenous group the direct descendants of Tzeltal is a Mayan language spoken in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Tojolabal is an indigenous community in the southern part of the Mexican state of Chiapas. Las Margaritas is a city and the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Ch'ol are an indigenous people of southeastern Mexico, mainly located in the northern Chiapas highlands in the state of Chiapas, Mexico

The most traditional of Maya groups are the Lacandon, a small population avoiding contact with outsiders until the late 20th century by living in small groups in the rain forests. The Lacandón are one of the Maya peoples who live in the jungles of the Mexican state of Chiapas, near the southern border with

Belize

The Maya population is concentrated in the Cayo and Toledo districts, but they are scattered throughout the country. Cayo District is a district in the west of the nation of Belize. Toledo District is the southernmost district in the nation of Belize, with the district capital in the town of Punta Gorda Belize. They are divided into the Yucatec, Kekchi, and Mopan. Yucatec Maya ("Maaya T'aan" in the revised Orthography of the Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala) is a Mayan language spoken in Mopan is a language that belongs to the Yucatecan branch of the Mayan languages.

Tabasco

The state of Tabasco is home to the Chontal Maya. The Chontal Maya are an indigenous people of the Mexican state of Tabasco.

Guatemala

In Guatemala, the largest and most traditional Maya populations are in the western highlands. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest

In Guatemala the Spanish colonial pattern of keeping the native population legally separate and subservient continued well into the 20th century. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on This resulted in many traditional customs being retained, as the only other option than traditional Maya life open to most Maya was entering the Hispanic culture at the very bottom rung.

Considerable identification with local and linguistic affinities, often corresponding to pre-Columbian nation states, continues, and many people wear traditional clothing that displays their specific local identity. Clothing of women tends to be more traditional than that of the men, as the men have more interaction with the Hispanic commerce and culture.

Maya peoples of the Guatemala highlands include the K'iche', Mam, poqomam, Kaqchikel, Ixil, Q'eqchi', Tz'utujil, and Jakaltek. This page is about the Native American people for other uses the dish see Quiché (disambiguation. The Mam language is a member of the Mamean branch of the Mayan language family Poqomam is a Mayan language, closely related to Poqomchí. It is spoken by ca The Kaqchikel (in modern orthography formerly also spelled Cakchiquel) are one of the indigenous Maya peoples of the midwestern highlands in Guatemala The Tz'utujil ( Tzutujil Tzutuhil Sutujil) are a Native American people one of the 21 Maya ethnic groups that dwell in Guatemala. The Jakaltek language (also called Poptí) is a Mayan language of Guatemala spoken by around 90000 Jakaltek people in the department of

The southeastern region of Guatemala (bordering with Honduras) includes groups such as the Ch'orti'. Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. The Ch'orti' people (alternatively Ch'orti' Maya or Chorti) are one of the indigenous Maya peoples, who primarily reside in communities and

Quotes

• "We are not myths of the past, ruins in the jungle or zoos. We are people and we want to be respected, not to be victims of intolerance and racism. " — Rigoberta Menchú, 1992. Rigoberta Menchú Tum (b 9 January 1959, Chimel Quiché, Guatemala) is an indigenous Guatemalan of the Quiché - Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) ^[1]

Notes

References

External links

• Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya at the National Gallery of Art
• Learn more about Maya hieroglyphs and Maya numbering from the National Gallery of Art
• La Pintada, a Maya Chorti village near Copan Ruinas, Honduras
• A Day with Modern Mayans in the village of Oxtapacab, Yucatan, Mexico
• Yucatan's Maya Senior Healers, Wiseman, and J-Men's wisdom and traditions an informative article about their sacred rituals.
• Maya photos