The Mayan Empire: city-states in decline - America Before Columbus

The Mayan world was at the height of its power during the Classic period, between 250 and 900 AD, when cities such as Yaxchilan, Bonampak and Palenque were built in Chiapas, Quirigua and Copan in Honduras, and Piedras Negras in Guatemala. These cities were remarkable for their architecture, low-relief sculptures, frescoes, ceramics, steles and altars. During the same period, astronomy, mathematics, calendrical calculations and a system of hieroglyphic writing also developed. Political power was exercised by a priestly caste.

Around the middle of the ninth century, for reasons still not fully understood, perhaps connected with the exhaustion of the land and the outbreak of armed conflict, these centres of habitation and ceremony were abandoned. During the same period, Toltec influence began to be felt, the cult of Quetzalcoatl appeared and, at the beginning of the eleventh century, the new cities of Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Kabah were built. The Mayapan League was created and brought together the forces of the city of that name and those of Chichen Itza and Uxmal.

Mayan culture declined between 1200 and 1517. Once the League was dissolved, around 1450, the major population centres were transformed into minor states, and human sacrifice became a very common practice. The arrival of the Spaniards marked the end of a brief period of cultural splendour.

In the classical and post-classical periods, the big cities were a model of sumptuous and harmonious design, with palaces, temples, courts for bali games, observatories, baths, archways and tombs.

The most outstanding expression of Mayan sculpture was in low-relief, notably on steles where it was used to depict divinities, human beings and minutely rendered columns of glyphs. The most successful example of the art of fresco from the point of view of composition and design is at Bonampak, where battles, processions and prisoners are depicted.

Jose Luis Martinez

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