At the high watermark of their civilization, the Maya people in Mesoamerica reached a level of complexity comparable to the golden age of ancient Greece, inhabiting dozens of sophisticated cities, with some hosting up to 50,000 inhabitants .
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Avid fans of archaeology can sometimes fall prey to unsubstantiated claims like "aliens built the pyramids," provocative, dubious theories which fall under the category of pseudo-archaeology. Many of these claims are premised on hidden biases toward non-Western cultural heritages. This professor explores the hidden contours of pseudo-archaeology in this 12-minute TED talk.
On Dec. 20, 2012, fears of a Mayan-predicted apocalypse gripped Earth, causing panic in some parts of the world, including the stockpiling of vodka in Russia. In this podcast, Maya expert David Stuart—who helped translate some of the relevant Mayan texts—debunks the notion, arguing the Mayan calendar's end marked a cycle, not doomsday.
With an average elevation of 7,000-feet, Mexico's historical valley basin stands literally tall in the annals of history. Surrounded by volcanic mountains, the valley's center was once the vast, shallow Lake Texcoco, the site of the Aztec city Tenochtitlan. Learn the lay of this ancient, fertile land with this geography explainer on a key cradle of world civilization.
The ancient Maya people sometimes modified their skulls to appear more conical. Body modification has been a human pastime for literal ages, from piercings to bindings and everything in between. Modifying one's skull shape may have been a way to symbolize status, beauty, belonging, or belief. The health impacts of such practices are still debated. This article explores the history and health impacts of skull modification, also known as artificial cranial deformation.
This free online video game takes players on a journey through Mesoamerican legends as they attempt to undermine Tezcatlipoca, also known as Huracan or Hurakan. This game is titled Descent of the Serpent, a reference to the serpent-like shadow that descends the steps of the Mayan pyramid El Castillo during the equinoxes. Throughout the game, players will discover objects and monuments accompanied by blurbs explaining their relevance and meaning in Mayan and Aztec cultures.
The Mayan hieroglyphic script was the only true writing system developed in the Americas prior to European colonization. Examples of the millennia-old script have been discovered on stone pillars, pottery, and texts known as codices. Here’s a Maya writing system study guide for the high achievers among us.
The ancient Maya adorned their teeth with gemstones, believing it purified their breath and linking them to the divine. Recent analysis suggests the sealant used to attach these stones may have also had therapeutic properties, possibly preventing infections. Researchers found plant resins and gums in the sealants, with some containing compounds from pine trees known for their antibacterial properties. Learn more of the evidence around Maya dental practices here.
Imagine a civilization that built towering pyramids, tracked time with unrivaled precision, and developed one of the Americas' first writing systems—all while thriving deep in the jungles of Mesoamerica over 1,000 years ago. This was the world of the Maya, a society that reached incredible heights in art, commerce, and science, constructing cities of up to 50,000 people without modern tools. Their advanced knowledge of mathematics, including the concept of zero, and their intricate hieroglyphic writing set them apart, but their civilization eventually began to fade, leaving behind mysteries that still captivate us today. Today, we're exploring what made the Maya so special, the rise and fall of their civilization, and the impact they've made on our modern world.
A passage from an ancient Guatemalan text called the Popol Vuh contains a creation myth involving dwarfs before humans ever existed. These dwarfs were endowed with great vision and intellect, and eventually began creating art and ignoring the gods, hubris which led to their destruction in a flood. The gods then created humans from corn, imbuing them with limited vision. Learn more about the fascinating myth here.
Melipona honey was utilized by the ancient Maya and produced by stingless bees located in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. With a history dating over three millennia, this honey was traditionally used for medicinal purposes due to its high fructose content and antioxidant properties. Unlike regular honey, Melipona honey is less prone to crystallization and has a distinctive watery texture. Learn more about the honey here.
Weave together the many narratives of world history with our highly curated and expanding selection of diverse, fascinating resources designed to showcase the breadth and richness of Earth's story, from the earliest traces of human civilization to the dramatic developments of contemporary cultures.