I left off last time with the collapse of the Classic Maya which occurs between ~800 - 900 CE. The Toltecs arrive in the Yucatan around 800. It is explained that while the Toltecs were the conquerors, the Mayan and Toltec cultures blended, which can be seen very clearly in Chichen Itza. Classical Maya architecture exists which predates the Toltec arrival. Then, when the Toltecs arrive, new architecture was built on top of the older structures and contained elements of both groups. It is during this period of blending that Chichen Itza reaches its height as a center of trade, culture and power in the Yucatan. It was during the Classic Period that economic and political power and control became centralized in urban centers over nearby settlements. These settlements were connected to the main centers by a series of roads. These roads also served to connect the major urban centers to one another.
In the case of Tulum, its position on the coast enabled it to develop as a major hub for seafaring trade all along the eastern coast as far as Belize and Honduras during the Late Classic and Early Post Classical Period.
Coba's development as an urban center began during the Early Classic (~250 - 600 CE) and in the Middle Classic it became a regional capital interconnected with many other centers including Chichen Itza and Uxmal (which we visited yesterday and the day before.) We visited Coba on the way from Tulum to Merida, on the 13th.
We must remember that these urban centers were places for religious and political affairs and also housed the elite. The largest numbers of the populations lived outside these centers in surrounding areas.
Uxmal began to develop as a political power ~100 CE by an elite who considered themselves intermediaries between the gods and the people. From this time on, Uxmal developed a more urban organization and there was a gradual increase in its poilitical, religious, economic, and cultural importance in the northern Mayan area. Between ~200 and 100 CE, Uxmal consolidated its position as an urban center and became the dominant city of the region. Uxmal went through an important transition between ~1000 and 1200 CE with the arrival of the Toltecs, who introduced new political and religious concepts such as the increased emphasis on the cult of the serpent god Kukulkan (Quetzalcoatl to the Nahua). Images of Kukulcan can be found on buildings from the early 10th century onwards. Around 1200 CE, Uxmal was abandoned (for reasons unknown) as a residential center and was used exclusively as a site for ritual ceremonies.
One of the things I have been struck by as I have learned more about the Mayan civilization is the similarities that exist between the Mayan religious concepts and those of the Hindus in early India. For both cultures, time is believed to be cyclical rather than linear. Both conceive of time as continuous cycles of creation, life, and destruction. There are similarities in symbolism, as well. Both have deities related to these elements. Both use the symbol of the mother giving birth and the phallus as fertility symbols. These are only a few of the similarities that I have seen. There are numerous others. There are other ancient cultures who also share many of these ideas as well. As a teacher of world cultures and world history, I always try to emphasize not only the differences between and among cultures, but also the amazingly numerous similarities.
We have benefitted greatly from the interaction we have had with the guides at Uxmal and Chichen Itza. In both cases the gentlemen were locals who were Mayan and clearly identified very strongly with these incredible places. They provided us with wonderful insights into the culture of the Maya. This continues to be an extraordinary journey.
Lynda
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