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Name Teacher Name Class and Number Date Mayan Civilization and Its Impact on the Modern World The Mayan people had a culture and civilization which was scientifically and technologically advanced, and was extremely significant to the progress of future cultures. The Mayan cities were principally established in areas that are currently in southern Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. To put the significance of this ancient civilizations undertakings and advancements into a historical context, they constructed more cities than the ancient Egyptians and were in prominence over six times longer than the Roman Empire. Prior to the Spanish conquest of Central America and Mexico, the Mayans are considered by historians and anthropologists to have many of the most important developments of the Western Hemisphere. The information and understanding that the contemporary world has gained from the Mayans is broad and spans many subject areas. Their use of mathematics influenced the system of calendars and geometry used today. They were influential in many areas of architecture, and quarried huge amounts of stone in the construction of marvelous buildings and temples. The Mayan agricultural system, especially their use of irrigation and the environment, have practices that are still utilized in current cultures. They developed a form of writing using hieroglyphics, which has been determined to be one of the first systems of writing of the area. The Mayan civilization, through its advancements in mathematics, architecture, farming, and writing, created a basis of knowledge that future generations and civilizations from around the

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world would learn from, adapt, and incorporate into their own cultures, environments, and society. A significant part of the Mayan civilization revolved around its use of mathematics, and their skills led to the development of many accomplishments. One of the first and noticeable uses of mathematics can be demonstrated in the way that the Mayans used geometry in designing the layouts of their architecture, as well as in the construction of the myriad of buildings that composed the sprawling cities. Geometry was also useful in the conception and creation of the many works of art that were produced by the Mayans. Through the use of mathematics, the Mayans were able to cultivate a system of taxation for citizens of the cities. They also established a complex and extremely accurate calendar system which used the cycles of the moon, sun, Venus, and other planets to calculate and record the passage of time. These major mathematical and scientific accomplishments were especially influenced by the very effective computation system that the Mayans used. The Mayan system of mathematics was established on a base 20 method, and they were the first recorded culture to designate the use and symbol for the number zero. The Mayans based much of their everyday life on their understanding of mathematics, using it to determine important events in the society, and when to plant certain crops. Their methods for crop rotation, based on mathematics, and their calendaring system are still used in many Central American societies today. The Mayans are well known for their massive cities and their advances in architecture, which has proven to be both plentiful and resilient, and has therefore been one of the most significant ways that modern anthropologists and archeologists have been able to study the Mayan civilization. The Mayan architecture predominantly originated around the Mexican landscape and featured large open spaces within buildings, as well as huge courtyards, courts on

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which to play ball games, and saunas. There were also huge palaces built for the rulers, and many temples and religious masonry completed in the devotion of their gods. While the buildings are very important and amazing, even in their current condition, what is the most fascinating in the architecture is the style that was used to create them, from material use, layout plans, to color choices. The Mayans established technology behind cement and concrete that they used in their architecture, and has been a basis on which new practices have been developed in the modern world. The features that are exemplified in the ancient civilization are still used throughout current Central American architecture, especially the natural looking building materials and colors that reflect the environment. The ancient Mayan people realized that in order to ensure the best farming techniques, they would need to maximize the utilization of their environment. In an effort to guarantee that they used the tropical forests to their most resourceful advantage, the Maya focused on creating raised fields in which they grew their crops, which they could irrigate through their extensive system of canals and reservoirs. This allowed the farmers to produce a plentiful supply of food. So successful were they in their production of foodstuffs, that there was little to no hunger in the cities, which led to overcrowding and high populations, which then increased the food needs. When the demand for food outweighed even the maximum utilization provided by the Mayan farmers, epidemics of malnutrition evolved, which in turn motivated the farmers to continuously develop new and better farming techniques. Additionally, through the study of their crops and agriculture, the Mayans were able to improve the domestication of maize, which was their main sustenance source. They also were able to create many strains of their other important harvests, including pumpkins, beans, chili peppers, and vanilla. Furthermore, the Mayans have the distinction to be the first agricultural society to create chocolate. Throughout modern Central

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America, farmers, especially in remote areas, study and use the agricultural methods that were used by the ancient Mayans, especially the irrigation techniques, which are essential in the tropical forests of the area.. The Mayans developed a system of writing through the use of hieroglyphics which has been determined to have originated around 200 B.C. and was used until the end of the 17th century. Their written language was the single first true writing method established in the preColumbian Americas. There have been many instances of Mayan writing discovered in the

civilization discovered and studied by anthropologists. They have been found within pottery, sculptures, and even the few books, or codices, which have survived. Since there have been so many instances of the writing found, researchers have concluded that it was used quite frequently within the society. Within the written Mayan language there were over 800 characters, some represented pictorially through the use of hieroglyphics, and some represented through phonetic signs which indicated syllables or phrases. The Mayan system of writing is very complex, and it has taken centuries for the rest of the world to learn how to translate and understand the symbols and hieroglyphs. It wasnt until the mid-20th century that scholars were able to really understand the depth and breadth of the Mayan written language. Eventually, it was determined that most of the writings were associated with important or historical events within the culture, and have led to a much deeper understanding of the Mayan people and their civilization. Most of the books that were written by the Mayans have been destroyed over the years, especially after the Spanish conquest, and there are only 4 codices that have survived. These books contained paper made by fig bark and covers of jaguar skin. The writings of the Mayan civilizations are still studied and interpreted today, and show how feelings of devotion and love have existed continuously across cultures.

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In conclusion, the civilization, history, culture of the Mayan people that has been discovered and studied by anthropologists demonstrate that the Mayans were very complex, intelligent and resourceful, and their understanding and knowledge has led to the development of many useful practices and principles that are currently used in the modern world. Their use of mathematics has helped to develop modern geometrical theorems and applications. The architecture that was produced by the Mayan people has continually influenced the buildings and use of the environment in Central America. Mayan systems of irrigation and their agricultural methods are still studied as a model for the best way to utilize the surroundings. Finally, the Mayans were able to develop a complex system of writing and language which has been able to analyze and understand the history and culture of the Mayan societies. The ancient Mayan civilization made huge strides in the areas of mathematics, farming, agriculture, and writing, which were so significant that they continue to be utilized and learned from by modern societies.

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Works Cited Dawson, Victoria. One from the heart: an anthropologists discovery about a Mayan language leads to a heartfelt tale. Smithsonian Feb 2003: 25. Irby, Beverly J., Rafael Lara Alecio, and Leonel Morales-Aldana. A mathematics lesson from Mayan civilization.: Teaching Children Mathematics (1998). "Maya." Encyclopdia Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopdia Britannica, 2011. "Mayan hieroglyphic writing." Encyclopdia Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopdia Britannica, 2011. Webster, David. The study of classical Maya architecture. Latin American Research Review 32.2 (1997): 219+