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The Ancient Maya Civilization

The Ancient Maya civilization had a huge influence on the cultures that came before it and those that followed it. This paper will provide an overview of the history, culture, customs, and religion of the Ancient Maya. In addition, this paper will also address some of the significant archaeological sites, political organization and accomplishments. This paper seeks to provide an informative understanding of the different aspects of the Ancient Maya civilization and its legacy.


The Ancient Maya civilization is a complex and fascinating culture that went through vast phases of cultural and political evolution over thousands of years. It consists of many distinct and prosperous city centers, long distance trading networks and their own unique writing system (invented around the second century BCE). Archaeological evidence suggests that the Maya originated from the Guatemalan highlands and the Yucatan Peninsula over 3,500 years ago (Freshman, 2013). It is also believed that the Maya’s ancestors were a group of nomadic hunter-gatherers from the early agricultural cultures of southern Mexico.


There were three distinct periods in the Maya history: Preclassic (2000 BC-250 AD), Classic (250-900 AD), and Postclassic (900-1542 AD). This ancient civilization reached its peak during the Classic period, when their knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and writing enabled them to build massive cities with complex systems of irrigation and defense (Freshman, 2013). During this period, elaborate stone monuments, palaces and temples were constructed, and the artwork and hieroglyphic inscriptions on them provide evidence of their highly developed social, political and religious beliefs. The Maya also developed an extensive collection of myths and stories which still influence the culture of the modern-day Maya people.


The Maya culture was very complex, and its beliefs and customs were passed down through generations. They were polytheistic, with a complex pantheon of gods to represent their world. Religion was a major part of the Maya culture and its rituals were often entwined with agriculture. The gods of the rain, sun, wind and earth were symbolized by the animal species in their area and these formed the basis of their beliefs and rituals.

The Maya had an extensive body of knowledge in mathematics, astronomy and architecture, which they used to perfect their calendar and astronomy, build monuments and architectural structures, and plan wars and seasonal ceremonies. They also developed an intricate hieroglyphic system of writing, which is still under investigation today.

Political Organization and Accomplishments

The Ancient Maya city-states were organized in a hierarchical political system, with a king or leader at the top and a complex system of elites and the common people below him. The Maya were quick to innovate and expand their political system, even conquering neighboring lands and creating a vast trading network. They were also accomplished warriors and conducted elaborate military campaigns.

The Maya created stunning monuments, temples, and palaces to showcase their empire. These structures provided a tangible reminder of the power and wealth of the civilization. The most significant of these are the towering pyramid of Chichen Itza and the elaborate palace of Palenque.


The Ancient Maya civilization had a huge influence on the cultures that came before it and those that followed it. This paper has provided an overview of the history, culture, customs, and religion of the Ancient Maya. In addition, this paper has also discussed some of the most significant archaeological sites, the political organization and accomplishments of the Maya. The Maya's rich and complex culture has left a profound impact on modern day civilization, and its monuments and stories continue to captivate and inspire people to this day.

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