Mysterious Facts About The Mayan Civilization
The Mayan Civilization consisted of the Maya people, an indigenous group from Mexico and Central America.
For hundreds of years, they have continuously inhabited the lands comprising modern-day Yucatan, Mexico and southward through Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras.
The name Maya comes from the ancient Yucatan city of Mayapan, the people's last capital before their civilization's mysterious downfall in the middle of the last millennium.
But how much do we know about them beyond that? The Mayans are one of the most fascinating civilizations that have ever appeared on Earth... precisely because so much of their society remains shrouded in mystery and controversy.
Don't worry though: we've gone through research and pulled out the essentials. Here are 33 mind-boggling facts about the Ancient Mayans.
Mayan Civilization Facts
33. Not Done Yet
Before we get into all the incredible details, it's worth saying this: The Mayan civilization is still being uncovered.
In fact, in 2015 researchers discovered a new Mayan pyramid that was over 1000 years old... and might actually be the tallest pyramid ever discovered in Mexico.
That just goes to show you how incredibly influential the Mayans were. Not only do their buildings still stand today—we're also still finding them.
32. Bad Luck
Ever wondered why a civilization like the Mayans didn't "advance" as quickly as others? How come the Spaniards had guns, while the Mayans and Aztecs were still battling with swords and shields?
It might have to do with the natural habitat of Meso-America.
The historian Jared Diamond has claimed that much of human advancement is possible only with the development of agriculture and animal domestication, which allow a society to feed themselves more easily. Unfortunately, the peoples of South America had major disadvantages there: after all, the lands the Mayans lived in had very few native animal or plant species which can be easily farmed or domesticated.
31. Mysterious Maya
The Mayan civilization suffered several catastrophic collapses through their history. Archaeologists have failed to identify the reason behind the abandonment of many large Mayan cities in the 2nd and 10th century.
But although each of these mysterious calamities is referred to as a collapse, neither marked the end of the Mayan civilization.
