Mayan Cities Flashcards

Study Notes

El Baúl

Part of the Cotzumalhuapa Nuclear Zone, including Bilbao and El Castillo.
Urban area from the Late Classic period.

Becan

Major city in the Yucatán Peninsula, occupied from about 550 BC.
Thrived throughout the Classic Period, abandoned around the 9th century AD.
Contact with Teotihuacan in the Early Classic; fortified with a moat and ramparts.

Calakmul

One of the two most significant Maya cities during the Classic Period.
Notable rivalry with Tikal influenced the political landscape.
Important since the Late Preclassic, with monuments dating until the 10th century AD.

Caracol

Important lowland Maya city, settled in the Late Preclassic.
Maximum power attained in the Classic Period; first allied with Tikal, then Calakmul.
Played a crucial role in Tikal's downfall; experienced significant expansion in the Late Classic.

Chichen Itza

One of the largest Maya cities, key in the northern Maya lowlands.
Significant from the Late Classic through to the Early Postclassic period.
Demonstrated diverse architectural styles, both Maya and non-Maya.

El Ceibal (Seibal)

Largest city in the Classic Period within the Pasión River region.
Experienced peak in the Late Preclassic, declined in the Early Classic, then dominated by Dos Pilas in the Late Classic.
Survived the collapse of Dos Pilas and was one of the last cities in the area, abandoned at the end of the Classic Period.

Chunchucmil

Large site that peaked during the Late to Terminal Classic.
Showcased a unique organizational structure, likely focused on specialized coastal salt trade.

Coba

Extensive site located among five lakes on a dry plain.
Famous for a network of 16 causeways, the longest over 100 kilometers (62 mi) to Yaxuna.
Main occupation phase spanned the Late Classic to Early Postclassic, approximately AD 700 to 1100.

Copán

Capital of a significant Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD, allied with Tikal.
Situated in the southeast of Mesoamerica, bordering non-Maya cultures.
Renowned for its elaborate sculptural art.

Dos Pilas

Founded in the Late Classic by an offshoot of the Tikal dynasty to control Petexbatún trade routes.
Initially a vassal of Calakmul after breaking from Tikal.
Key historical insights into rivalries and conflicts of the Late Classic due to detailed reconstructions.

Dzibilchaltun

Major city in the northern Yucatán Peninsula, primarily from the Classic Period.
Continued activity into the Late Postclassic, with the central temple in ruins during this time.

Ixkun

Large archaeological site with unrestored mounds and ruins, known in the municipality of Dolores.
Capital of one of the largest kingdoms in the upper Mopan Valley.
Stela 1 is one of the tallest stone monuments in the Petén Basin; occupied from the Late Preclassic through to the Postclassic.

Kaminaljuyu

Established in the Middle Preclassic; became a dominant city in the Late Preclassic across the Maya Highlands.
Experienced decline by the end of the Preclassic, later overtaken in the Early Classic with strong central Mexican connections.

Description

Test your knowledge of key Mayan cities with these flashcards. Learn about the significant urban areas like El Baúl and Becan, their historical importance, and time periods. Ideal for students and enthusiasts of Mesoamerican history.