Mayan Architecture: Tulum

2032 Words5 Pages

Mayan Architecture &

The City of Tulum

Outline

I. Intro

II. The Mayan Civilization

A. Mayan Time Periods

B. Mayan Territory

C. Mayan Accomplishments

D. Mayan Collapse

III. Mayan Architecture

A. Intro

B. Tulum (Case Study)

1. Tulum’s History

2. Tulum’s Influences and Styles

3. Tulum’s Design

a. Site

1. Economy

2. Social Class Orientation

3. Defenses

b. Buildings

1. El Castillo

2. Temple of Frescos

3. Temple of the Wind

4. Temple of the Descending God

5. Temple of the Initial Series

6. House of the Haiach Uinic

IV. Conclusion

In world history, the Ancient Mayan Civilization was dubbed the “Greeks of the New World.” Through years of archaeological research, scientists have found that the ancient Mayans were a very advanced and very large civilization.

The Mayan Civilization

The entire Mayan Civilization lasted about 3000 years, but the peak of the Mayans was between AD 300 and AD 900. In the Mayan’s history there were five main periods of “Mayan Civilization” according to Caren Caraway: the Pre-Classic Period (1500 BC – AD 200), the Early Classic Period (AD 200 – AD 625), the Fluorescence Period (AD 625 – AD 800), the Late Classic (AD 800 – AD 925), and finally the Post-Classic Period (AD 925 – AD 1540) (Caraway 2).

The Mayan Civilization consisted of 16 major communities ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 people in each. Mayan territory spanned from Southern Mexico to Northwestern Honduras but was mostly concentrated within the Yucatan Peninsula ("Maya (people)"). Through the ages of the Mayan Civilization, the migration of the Mayan people went from Southern Central Mexico to the Southeast side of the Yucatan peninsula and some parts of Northern Belize and Guatemala.

The Mayans were also a very advanced in the field of science. They had their own system of written language (hieroglyphics), their own unique astronomical observations, their unique (and first in the world) 365 day calendar, and most importantly to this report, their own unique architecture. The Mayans, unlike other European cultures, did not borrow ideas of religion, culture, art, or architecture from other civilizations (outside of the Yucatan Peninsula). Although other peoples from the Central American area influenced them, they did not steal architec...

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...ally at Tulum not too long ago. I think Tulum was and still is very beautiful, I think the architecture no matter how tainted it is from other civilizations is still magnificent, and personally, I loved the people there, most of whom were direct descendants of the ancient Mayans.

Works Cited

Caraway, Caren. The Mayan Design Book. Owings Mills, Maryland: Stemmer House, 1981.

Holden, Peter. “The ancient walled city of Tulum.” Washington Times, Jan 1999.

Kroll, Barb & Ron. “World of Maya Tulum has a dramatic locations overlooking the sun-drenched Mexican Yucatan.” Toronto Star Newspapers: September 14, 1996, Section: Travel.

"Maya (people)." Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation, 1993-1997.

Mureiko, John C. “Mayan Sites.” March 1, 2000 & .

Ruddell, Nancy. “Mystery of the Maya.” Canadian Museum of Civilization, February 28, 2000 mminteng.html#menu>. Stierlin, Henri. Living Architecture: Mayan. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1964.

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