Aug 3 - a peek at Maya history
In preparation for our intended move to the Yucatan of Mexico, I am letting the subscriptions for all my magazines expire. . . One being the National Geographic, which I have received for years and always been a fan of, and it seemed quite a bit out of the ordinary when I received my ‘last’ issue several days ago - only to find that their cover story was of the Maya civilization. . . . Quite intriguing considering that the Maya peopled the Yucatan where we had chosen our home site. . . I read with interest, and marveled at the beautiful photography and pictures enriching the article. . .
The area and era of the Maya that is covered in the article comprises the southern part of the Yucatan, parts of Guatemala, Belize, and areas of Mexico to the west. . . highlighting the historical span of A.D. 378 and beyond, when the arrival of “Fire Is Born” - from a region close to what is now Mexico City - appears to have altered the lives of the Maya to significant degrees. . . even if this area was not within the bounds of our chosen home place along the upper Yucatan coastline, the article held my fascination as I read and poured over the map that accompanied the magazine. .
The article details the events, with names and dates, as have been deciphered from the Maya writings left in stone, and gives credit to the varied scholars and archaeologists who have worked long and diligently in providing this information. . . It is well worth the read, not to mention looking at the magnificent photographs of the ruins left behind, by going to ngm.com/0708
It appears that the major events that occurred within this era and area did not have a great impact upon the upper regions of the Yucatan and the Maya living in that area, as cities there continued to flourish as the southern regions declined. . . The House of the Doves, a magnificent structure of architectural delight, was built during the ninth century while collapse was happening to both the people and cities to the south. .
Numerous ruins dot the landscapes of the areas of the Maya civilization, scattered around the ancient city sites. . . . a photographic tour of the different regions is only a ‘click‘ away. .
But in the area of our intended relocation, not too far from the city of Merida, is the The Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza, where ancient ball games just might have meant the winner lost his ’head.’. . .literally. . .
There is far too much information on the Maya people, their history, culture, and the magnificent monuments left behind by their ancestors for us to gaze in awe at - for me to begin to tell about it here. . . So, I leave you to peruse the links above to gain your own glimpse into this historical account - at least as far as scholars have been able to decipher it so far. . .
