Maya is a people (a group of kindred peoples) of Indian origin of at least 6 million people in Mesoamerica .
| Mayan | |
|---|---|
| Abundance and area | |
| Total: 6 million (2002) Until Columbus 5-10 million [1] [2] [3] | |
 Salvador  Mexico  Guatemala  Belize  Honduras | |
| Tongue | Maya , Spanish , Creole , English |
| Religion | Catholicism , Protestantism , traditional beliefs |
They speak 25 languages [1] of the Maya-Quiche language family. Part of the Maya was translated into Spanish, most of those who speak their native language are bilingual. They are descendants of the people who created the ancient Mayan civilization [4] .
Content
Residential Areas
Most Maya lives in the southern states of Mexico: Chiapas , Campeche , Yucatan , Quintana Roo and Tabasco . In Belize, the Mayans make up 10% of the population. In Guatemala, the Mayans consider themselves more than half of the country's 12 million population. Maya also live in the western part of Honduras , El Salvador and in smaller quantities in the rest of Central America.
Yucatan Peninsula
On the peninsula are the Mexican states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche. The majority of the population of the states are Maya by birth, but the population of the western part of the peninsula is highly assimilated. Even those who speak Mayan at home often identify themselves as mestizos. Unlike the mountain tribes in Guatemala, the Maya Yucatan speak the same Yucatec language and identify themselves simply as Maya , without tribal clarification.
In the east of the peninsula (Quintana Roo), the Mayans are less assimilated, many, especially in rural areas, do not speak Spanish. In the middle of the XIX century, an uprising broke out in this region, one of the largest and most successful uprising of the indigenous people of America of modern times, known as the Yucatan war of races (castes) . The independent Indian state of Chan Santa Cruz was even recognized by the British Empire. Nowadays, seaside resorts are developing on the coast of Quintana Roo, and the Mexican government encourages citizens to move here from other parts of the country.
Chiapas
The state is inhabited by the Mayan nationalities Tsotsil and Tseltal (in the highlands) and in the jungle.
Many Mayans support the Zapatist army of national liberation , operating in the region and seeking the independence of the territories inhabited by Indians.
Guatemala
They make up 65% of the country's population and retain 23 languages belonging to the Maya-Kiche family of languages, many of which are quite different in direct origin and belong to different groups. The level of understanding between different languages is different, between some it is almost zero (for example, between the group of mothers and the languages of the Quiche group).
The socio-ethnic level is also heterogeneous, some nations have been in conflict since pre-Columbian times (for example, Kakchikeli and Quiche, mothers and Quiche, etc.).
Crafts
Part of the goods is produced in all regions of the Maya people, the other part is produced only in certain regions, some villages produce only one type of product [5] .
Textile production is most developed in the highlands of Guatemala and Chiapas. Shirts, blouses and other fabric items are made there. Heneken fibers are made from bags, ropes, belts, nets and hammocks. In a number of places, regardless of the landscape, baskets, hats and mats are made, Yucatan graceful hats from palm leaves are especially appreciated [5] .
Pottery plays an important role, although the quality of products is much lower than the quality of similar products of the ancient Mayan civilization , products are very rarely painted and are generally intended for home use. More and more plastic and metal utensils [5] .
In mountainous areas, stone grain- graders are often made, although small metal mills are increasingly used, or maize is taken to large mills. In the Guatemalan Highlands, one of the popular crafts is the creation of adobe , used in the construction of houses, in some places produce tiles , used to create roofs. The production of charcoal is also popular [5] .
In addition, the Mayans produce sugar (called "panela") from sugar cane juice [5] .
In the forest areas make furniture and other wooden objects [5] .
In Yucatan and Campeche from the shells of sea turtles and golden filigree make various products and decorations. The people of the lacandons still produce bows with arrows, but nowadays they are already for sale to tourists as souvenirs [5] .
Mayan Literature
- Popol-Vuh. Pedigree of Vladyk Totonikapan / Trans. from the Quiche language R.V. Kinzhalova. Reprint edition 1953. - M .: Nauka, 1993. - 252 p. (Literary Monuments)
- Quetzal and the Dove: Poetry of Nahua, Maya, Quechua / Trans. with isp. and ind. languages; Comp. and foreword V. Zemskova ; Comments R. Kinzhalova. - M .: Art. lit., 1983. - 398 p.
Mayan Calendar
The ancient Mayans attached great importance to the numeracy. Their conviction that events recur at regular intervals is reflected in the calendars they created, of which there were at least three.
For ritual purposes, the Mayans used the calendar, which today experts call tzolkin . The calendar cycle consisted of 260 days, and the invoice was recorded independently in two cycles 13 and 20 days long. In a cycle of 20 days in length, every day had its name and sacred meaning. This calendar was used to determine the time of religious ceremonies, as well as divination.
See also
- The Mayan World Museum is a museum dedicated to the history and culture of Yucatan to the Mayan people.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Lengua y cultura mayas: [ isp. ] . - UNAM, 2002. - P. 170. - " El" Pueblo Maya "constitutional algo menos de 6 millones de hablantes de 25 idiomas ". - ISBN 9703200893 .
- ↑ Nations, James D. The Tropical Forest: People, Parks, and Ancient Cities . - University of Texas Press, January 1, 2010. - ISBN 978-0-292-77877-1 .
- Pre The Pre-Columbian Civilizations of Central America - The Mesoamericans - Medieval Warm Period . sites.google.com .
- ↑ Maya (Indian people in Mexico) // Great Soviet Encyclopedia . - 3rd ed. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978. - ( Great Soviet Encyclopedia ).
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Alberto Rus, 1986 , Maya today.
Literature
- Rus Luillet, Alberto . Maya today // Mayan people / Translation from Spanish by E. G. Aleksandrenkova, scientific editor and author of the preface V. I. Gulyaev. - M .: Thought, 1986. - 286 p.