the maya civilization * |
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1200-1000 olmec
1800-900 early preclassic maya
900-300 middle preclassic maya
300 b.c. - a.d. 250 late preclassic maya |
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250-600 early classic maya
600-900 late classic maya
900-1500 post classic maya
1521-1821 colonial period
1821- today independent mexico |
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11,000 |
the
first hunter-gatherers settle in the maya highlands and lowlands.
|
3114-3113 |
the creation
of the world takes place, according to the maya long count calendar.
|
2000 |
the rise
of the olmec civilization, from which many aspects of maya culture
are derived. village farming becomes established throughout maya
regions. |
700 |
mayan
writing is developed. |
400 |
the earliest
known solar calendars are carved in stone. |
300 |
the maya
adopt the idea of a society ruled by nobles and kings. |
100 |
the city
of teotihuac�n is founded in the rainforest and for hundreds of
years is the cultural, religious and trading centre |
|
|
100 |
decline
of the olmecs. |
400 |
maya highlands
are under the domination of teotihuac�n the end of maya culture
and language begins in some parts of the region |
500 |
tikal becomes the first great maya
city. citizens from teotihuac�n arrive, with new ideas for weapons,
and human devotion. |
600 |
a mysterious event destroys teotihuac�n.
tikal becomes the largest city in mesoam�rica. tours still run
to tikal today. |
683 |
at age 80, the emperor pacal dies
. he is buried in the temple of the inscriptions at palenque.
mayan pyramids can still be seen today |
751 |
trade between maya areas declines
and conflict increases. |
869 |
in tikal, construction stops and the
city begins to come to an end. |
899 |
tikal is abandoned. |
900 |
the classic
period of maya history ends, with the collapse of the southern
lowland cities. maya cities in the northern yucat�n continue to
thrive. development of the puuc style in uxmal, kabah and labn�.
|
1200 |
northern
maya cities begin to be abandoned. |
1224 |
the city
of chich�n itz� in yucatan is abandoned by the toltecs. the itz�
people settle in the deserted area. |
1244 |
the itz�
leave chich�n itz� mexico for unknown reasons |
1263 |
the itz�
begin building the city of mayap�n. |
1283 |
mayap�n
becomes the capital of yucat�n |
1441 |
mayap�n
is abandoned by 1461. after this, warring groups compete to rule
over the others. |
1517 |
the spanish
first arrive on the shores of yucat�n under hern�ndez de c�rdoba,
the arrival of the spanish brings diseases to the maya including
smallpox, influenza and measles. within a century, 90 per cent
of mesoam�rica's native populations will have died. |
1519 |
hern�n
cort�s begins exploring yucat�n. |
1524 |
cort�s
meets the itz� people, the last of the maya to remain free of
the spanish. |
1528 |
the spanish
begin their conquest of the northern maya. the maya fight back
|
1541 |
the spanish
conquer the maya. |
1542 |
the spanish
establish a capital city at m�rida in yucat�n. |
1695 |
the ruins
of tikal in guatamela are discovered by a spanish priest, who
had become lost in the jungle. |
1697 |
the city
of tayasal, capital of the itz� in the pet�n, is taken by the
spanish. it was the last maya independent political entity |
1712 |
the maya
of the chiapas highlands rise against the mexican government.
they continue to do so off and on until today. |
1821 |
mexico
becomes independent from spain. |
1839 |
american
diplomat and amateur archaeologist john lloyd stephens and english
artist frederick catherwood begin exploring maya regions |
1847 |
the yucat�n
maya rise up against the mexican government. the rebellion is
so successful that the maya almost take over the entire peninsula
in the "war of the castes". |
1910 |
the
mexican revolution begins. |
1952 |
the priest-king
pacal's tomb at palenque is discovered |
1962 |
maya hieroglyphic signs are first catalogued . looting of
maya tombs and sites begins around this time in the southern
lowlands.
(based on the book 'mystery of the maya')
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