![]() ![]() This may be because of the long distances that had to be traveled between cities. This may support the theory that war was fought by and for elites that is, the Maya and non-Maya nobility. However, it has been noted that the Maya cities kept some distance between themselves and their enemies with an estimated mean distance of 55 km (about two to eight day's travel) between major settlements. Little can be known about how the ancient Maya planned and coordinated their attacks. Certain events such as the death of a leader or birth of an heir may have required sacrifice. Warfare is alluded to in to the mythology of the Popol Vuh, which describes sacrifice through decapitation. Sacrifice not only legitimized the ruler by intimidating rivals and awing the citizens, but was also associated with concepts of sacred fluids and the passage of time. Although warring leaders undoubtedly benefited materially, one of the main goals may have been to acquire sacrificial victims. Warfare was likely a driving force of cultural change. Ideological roots, tactics, organization, and weaponry Ideology A figurine of Maya warrior with facial scarification, 600–800 AD Population growth increased the competition between polities, resulting in increased levels of violence. This led to improved efficiency in acquiring and holding valued resources, especially through military force. As polities became more successful, they also became more complex. Economic control of resources such as obsidian also increased competition among polities. Among the most critical resources were water and agricultural land. Some scholars have suggested that the capture of sacrificial victims was a driving force behind warfare. Maya polities engaged in violent warfare for political control of people and resources. Warfare can also be identified from archaeological remains that suggest a rapid and drastic break in a fundamental pattern due to violence. The goals and motives of warfare in Maya culture are not thoroughly understood, but scholars have developed models for Maya warfare based on several lines of evidence, including fortified defenses around structure complexes, artistic and epigraphic depictions of war, and the presence of weapons such as obsidian blades and projectile points in the archaeological record. Warfare of the Mesoamerican civilization Sculpture of a Maya prisoner of war in the site museum of TonináĪlthough the Maya were once thought to have been peaceful, current theories emphasize the role of inter-polity warfare as a factor in the development and perpetuation of Maya society. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |