The term mesoamerica was first coined by anthropologist Paul Kirchoff. In 1943 anthropologists attempted to differentiate culture areas – cultures that shared characteristics that were found in the middle part of the America’s. These characteristics were monumental architecture and other important developments such as:
Corbel Arch
Ball courts
Folded Books
Complex Calendars
Knowledge of Astronomy
Reliance on corn, bean, squash
Human Sacrifice
THE HISTORY OF RESEARCH
The Spanish Travellers:
This is the period that will eventually lead to the conquest of the Maya. As we have probably heard or read somewhere in history, Christopher Columbus made 4 voyages to the America’s. On his 4th voyage he came to the Bay of Honduras (The area toward the southern end of Belize where it meets with Guatemala and Honduras). he claimed he met some people (Maya) on some dugout canoes – large enough for 25 men and cargo.
Spanish Galleons Coming In To Shore
By 1520, several events began to happen with the earliest travellers and the ancient Maya:
- Shipwrecked Spanish swept to coast of Northern Belize and Southern Mexico
- The Maya started to sacrifice them except 2 of them
- The two who were Guerrero and Aguilar who were adopted by the Maya
- Guerrero marries the daughter of Nachan Kan, who was the ruler of Chactemal (Santa Rita ancient Maya City today)
- At the same time deeper in the heart of Mexico, one Valdivia convinces Hernan Cortez to mount an expedition – they subsequently march into the ancient city of Tenochtitlan (Mexico city)’
Elsewhere in Mexico, a Spanish priest Fray Antonio Bienvenida became one of the first to visit Tihoo, is today’s Merida in the Yucatan. Fray Bienvenida was absolutely impressed with what he witnessed. He wrote to Spain – “…there are fine buildings here built before the birth of Christ”, certainly, he was wrong because the buildings the ancient Maya had built there were built after the birth of Christ.
Another Bishop arrives in 1549. The world will soon never forget him. Bishop Diego de Landa becomes the new bishop of the diocese of Merida. In 1562 he decides to have an event which in history was called ‘Auto Da Fe’ in Mani a city in Merida. This is when he destroyed the ancient Maya idols and all their books.
Of the tragic misdeeds this particular bishop organized and oversaw, one thing he decided to do which, even though wrong, helped us understand the Maya writing was, attempting to work on the Maya alphabet. He also wrote a book he called, Las Relaciones De Las Cosas De Yucatan between 1562-1563. This book was not found until 1863.
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