1. The Classic Maya DevelopmentAgriculture Settlement Patterns and Population Size

2. Development Slow, gradual change. Slow, gradual change. Did not develop overnight.Did not develop overnight. Due to several factorsDue to several factors Resource concentration Resource concentration population growthpopulation growth beginnings of cultural variabilitybeginnings of cultural variability development of ideologiesdevelopment of ideologies Migration of ideas from other cultures Migration of ideas from other cultures

3. Socio-Political Organization Small Kingdoms, No centralized state. Small Kingdoms, No centralized state. Succession of regional centers Succession of regional centers Not really dominant over neighbors Not really dominant over neighbors Although some exceptions at different times.Although some exceptions at different times.

4. Regions

5. Pacific Coastal Plain Izapa, Mexico Izapa, Mexico elaborate stone carvingselaborate stone carvings Abaj Takalik, Guatemala Abaj Takalik, Guatemala ”pot-belly” boulders that have been incised with fat human figures (carved after 500 B.C.)”pot-belly” boulders that have been incised with fat human figures (carved after 500 B.C.) Monte Alto Monte Alto collosal heads (contact with Olmec?), also pot belly boulders.collosal heads (contact with Olmec?), also pot belly boulders.

7. Izapa Izapa Stela 5, the largest and most complex stela at the site, depicts an enormous World Tree that bisects the composition. The tree stretches from a watery basal layer at the bottom to a celestial band at the top. A series of mythic and quasi-historical scenes appear on either side of the tree, while the bodies of two zoomorphic beasts frame the scene on either side. http://www.utexas.edu/cofa/a_ah/dir/precol/izapa.htm

8. Southeast Periphery Copan, Honduras Copan, Honduras evidence of interaction with western areas of MesoAm during the PreClassic (700-500 B.C.).evidence of interaction with western areas of MesoAm during the PreClassic (700-500 B.C.).

9. Copan http://www.misericordia.edu/users/davies/maya/copan.htm

10. Court of the Stelae http://www.misericordia.edu/users/davies/maya/gcourt.htm

11. Copan Ballcourt http://www.misericordia.edu/users/davies/maya/bcourt.htm

12. Hieroglyphic Staircase The hieroglyphic staircase is the longest known Mayan hieroglyphic inscription, tracing the lineage of Copan's kings back to the founder, Yax Kuk Mo. The hieroglyphic staircase is the longest known Mayan hieroglyphic inscription, tracing the lineage of Copan's kings back to the founder, Yax Kuk Mo. Its inscriptions are more worn-down than those on most of the stelae and, in order to prevent further erosion, it is now protected by an enormous tarp. Its inscriptions are more worn-down than those on most of the stelae and, in order to prevent further erosion, it is now protected by an enormous tarp. http://www.misericordia.edu/users/davies/maya/hcourt.htm

13. Stela M Stela M and its associated altar stand at the foot of the staircase, it is a portrait of the fifteenth ruler of Copan, "Smoke Shell" who also finished and dedicated the hieroglphic staircase. Stela M and its associated altar stand at the foot of the staircase, it is a portrait of the fifteenth ruler of Copan, "Smoke Shell" who also finished and dedicated the hieroglphic staircase. Stela M was dedicated in 756 A.D. (9.16.5.0.0), three years after the dedication of the staircase. Stela M was dedicated in 756 A.D. (9.16.5.0.0), three years after the dedication of the staircase. http://www.misericordia.edu/users/davies/maya/hcourt.htm

14. Southeastern Highlands Chalcuapa Chalcuapa one of the important highland centers,important for trade in pottery.one of the important highland centers,important for trade in pottery. Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala Kaminaljuyu, Guatemala expansive religious architecture from 400 B.C. to A.D. 100.expansive religious architecture from 400 B.C. to A.D. 100.

15. Southern Maya Lowlands Tikal, Guatemala Tikal, Guatemala Tikal investigations in the 1950s, national park around the site.Tikal investigations in the 1950s, national park around the site. 300 B.C. to 300 A.D. developed into a huge city.300 B.C. to 300 A.D. developed into a huge city. Uaxactun, Guatemala Uaxactun, Guatemala basic chronological sequence of pottery for area.basic chronological sequence of pottery for area.

16. Tikal http://www.destination360.com/tikal/guide.htm

17. Yucatan Peninsula and Belize Cerros Cerros exploited marine resources, adopted kingship by 50B.C.exploited marine resources, adopted kingship by 50B.C. Cerros Main Temple http://www.northernbelize.com/pg2/imagepages/pg2_03.html

18. Cerros, Belize Structure 5C-2nd was built on the edge of the water and decorated with monumental masks that flank the elongated central staircase. http://www.northernbelize.com/pg2/imagepages/pg2_02.html

19. Agriculture Patterns Patterns Previously thought that Maya practiced cultivation similar to 16th c descendants (i.e. Slash/Burn).Previously thought that Maya practiced cultivation similar to 16th c descendants (i.e. Slash/Burn). Thus, it was believed that that was why no major centers developed.Thus, it was believed that that was why no major centers developed. Additional research discovered that increased population caused them to shift from small scale cultivation to more intensive cultivation.Additional research discovered that increased population caused them to shift from small scale cultivation to more intensive cultivation.

20. Localized intensive agriculture Proposed by Warwick Bray Proposed by Warwick Bray gardening took place in zones of good water sources. gardening took place in zones of good water sources.

21. Expansive Cultivation (900 B.C.) Shifting cultivation-Slash/Burn Shifting cultivation-Slash/Burn corn farming with swidden or slash/burn, family of five needs 3,000 pounds of corn per year.corn farming with swidden or slash/burn, family of five needs 3,000 pounds of corn per year. lie fallow for 4-8 years, so use up a lot of land if population expands.lie fallow for 4-8 years, so use up a lot of land if population expands. but, 150-200 people per square mile can be supported with shifting cultivation.but, 150-200 people per square mile can be supported with shifting cultivation. Doesn’t explain how supported Classic Mayan population. Doesn’t explain how supported Classic Mayan population.

22. Wetland cultivation (Extensive-Intensive) Maya increasingly pressed by population. Maya increasingly pressed by population. Swamps were being drained and drainage canals built., located with radar imagery. Swamps were being drained and drainage canals built., located with radar imagery. The largest cities are located on the edges of these swamps. The largest cities are located on the edges of these swamps.

23. Settlement Patterns and Population Sizes No direct evidence for census material, so use indirect means. No direct evidence for census material, so use indirect means. Counting house moundsCounting house mounds Volumetric assessments of the masses of formal architecture in the civic centers.Volumetric assessments of the masses of formal architecture in the civic centers.

24. House Structures Small platforms of clay, earth and stone. Small platforms of clay, earth and stone. Thatched roofs, wattle and daub.Thatched roofs, wattle and daub. Lowlands areas seem that peak population was Late Classic (A.D. 1000)Lowlands areas seem that peak population was Late Classic (A.D. 1000) Volumetric Assessments Volumetric Assessments The larger and more numerous the more people needed to build them.The larger and more numerous the more people needed to build them. Peaks during Late Classic as well.Peaks during Late Classic as well.

25. Oneonta in Belize!!! http://employees.oneonta.edu/walke rr/homepage/Belize%20pics/Trippics.htm http://employees.oneonta.edu/walke rr/homepage/Belize%20pics/Trippics.htm http://employees.oneonta.edu/walke rr/homepage/Belize%20pics/Trippics.htm http://employees.oneonta.edu/walke rr/homepage/Belize%20pics/Trippics.htm