Maya Civilization

The Maya created the most sophisticated civilization of ancient America.

Their achievements in art, architecture, writing, astronomy, and calendrical notation were unsurpassed. Maya civilization developed along several lines that are continuously redefined and debated. Althoug development varied from site to site over time, by 150 c.e. many criteria of urbanism were present, including relatively higher population density than the surrounding countryside, a stratified society, nonfarming occupational specializations, formalized religion, markets, and a bureaucracy or civil service supported by a social surplus.

The levels of organization necessary for these developments indicates the complexity of regional centers and state-level society,lthough they appear to have lacked the highly centralized structures typical of imperial centers. 

By the end of the Late Formative Period and the beginning of the Classic Period, around 150 c.e., a number of Maya sites had become large and complex, including Tikal and Mirador, and dynastic histories were recorded in combination with the advanced Maya practice of writing.

420 empires and dynasties: The AmericasIn early Classic times population growth continued, and competition among neighboring centers increased. Concentrated urban development converted regional market and administrative centers to cities. Similarly, social structural changes took place that shifted lineage heads to hereditary aristocracy. A basic feudal system developed with an aristocracy based on control of land and water and the labor to work it.

By about 350 c.e. Tikal was one of the largest and best-organized centers, probably in some form of alliance with the outside imperial influence of Teotihuacán. It appears that Tikal had moved far beyond its feudal political system to more a centralized bureaucratic state, somewhat along the lines of Teotihuacán. At its height around 750 c.e. the population of Tikal reached approximately 72,000. 

Dynastic lineage is known at Tikal, because ceremonial elite burials and monumental stone stelae commemorating rulership are evident in the material record. Beginning in 376 c.e. Tikal witnessed a succession of uniquely named rulers that favor the notion of lineality, with an unbroken chain of parent child links over 11 generations. (The beginning of the lineage according to one source is as follows: Jaguar Paw, Curl Nose, Stormy Sky, Kan Boar, Jaguar Paw, Man from Southeast, and so on.) It is possible, therefore, that there were actual ruling lineages, and succession would have been restricted to members of a particular ruling lineage, which would favor a sociopolitical structure of rule by hereditary dynasty. 

Succession at Tikal favored the patrilineal line, where the office in question passes to the son of the previous holder; in some instances, however, authority transferred through the woman’s side even though a woman was never a ruler. This happened when there were no patrilineal heirs (sons or brothers) available. It appears that this happened at Tikal at least four times in the 11 documented successions, in which case the favored transition seemed to favor the husband of the daughter of the previous ruler. Ultimately, most likely the result of necessity, the rulers of Tikal were willing to suspend the rules of patrilineal succession in favor of orderly succession. Tikal maintained a prominent role in the hierarchy of Maya centers until its collapse around 900 c.e. 

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