ANTH 314 Fall 2017 Seligson USC – Flashcards
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Aguada
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"Watering Place" Sinkholes used to collect rainwater
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Bajo
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Seasonal wetlands/swamps
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Caves
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Represented underworld
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Classic Ch'olti'
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Elite language of Classic Maya Language of the glyphs
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Karst Geology
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Little surface water due to underground limestone transporting water to caves
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Mesoamerica
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Region from Central Mexico to Guatemala Home to Olmec, Maya, Aztec
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Peten
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Department of Guatemala containing largest Maya sites
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Popol Vuh
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Maya creation story Written in Roman letters after Spanish arrival
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Alfred Maudslay
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Studied Maya ruins, glyphs, calendrics in 1880s Proposed GMT correlation
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Carnegie Institute of Washington
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Major research center of Maya archaeology in the 20th century
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Copan Mosaics Project
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Cataloged art and architecture of Copan
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David Stuart
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Instrumental in deciphering glyphs Youngest recipient of MacArthur Genius Award
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Gordon Willey
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"New" archaeology Proponent of the scientific method
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J. Eric S. Thompson
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Leading Maya archaeologist and glyph researcher in 20th century Adamant glyphs couldn't be deciphered "Very smart but kind of a dick"
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Stephens and Catherwood
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Early 1800s Drew attention to Maya area Catherwood made precise drawings of ruins
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Tatiana Proskouriakoff
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One of the first women in archaeology Notable reconstruction drawings Realized that Maya glyphs were historical documentation, idea rejected by Thompson
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Uaxactun (pr. wa-shak-tune)
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Middle Preclassic/Classic lowlands site Conquered by Sihyaj K'ahk'
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Yuri Knorosov
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Russian instrumental in Maya glyph cracking Realized it was a syllabary/logographic system rather than an alphabet
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Cascajal Block
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Stone block containing Olmec writing Legitimacy disputed
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E Group
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Architectural formation prevalent in Preclassic One large structure, three smaller ones across from it in the positions of the sun at the equinox and solstices
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El Mirador
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Late Preclassic lowlands site Largest ever Tigre and Danta pyramids
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Kaminaljuyu
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Middle Preclassic highlands site Underneath current Guatemala City Monuments, PBD, religion Elite burials
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La Venta
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Middle Preclassic Olmec site Took over after San Lorenzo Earthen mounds, jade offerings, elaborate tombs, transition from heads to bas-relief
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Nakbe
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Middle/Late Preclassic lowlands site Roads, E-Groups
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Olmec
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Gulf Coast predecessor to Maya Colossal heads Basic political system San Andres, San Lorenzo, La Venta
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San Lorenzo
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Early Preclassic Olmec site Colossal heads
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Izapa
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Late Preclassic Pacific Coast society Notable for monuments and cosmovision
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Epi-Olmec
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Late Preclassic Gulf Coast Society Yet undeciphered glyphs Long Count
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Lake Miraflores
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Lake at center of Kaminaljuyu Currently dried up
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Mundo Perdido
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Largest pyramid at Tikal Built of stone
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San Bartolo
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Late Preclassic lowlands site Notable for murals
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Triadic Complex
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Three-structure group atop Late Preclassic and Classic pyramids
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Divided Society
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Theory that Maya community was divided by class inequality Resistance of the people, loyalty to rulers, lineage, and house Honor/confidence of rulers
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Building Morality
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Emotions, frames, narratives, and metaphors
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Household
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Living system with extended family and/or labor groups
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Lineage
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Highly important for rulers; the longer you could trace back your lineage the more power you had
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Moral Community
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Theory that Maya community was connected through morality, religion, and ritual Teaching morality to children through punishment
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Sakbih
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Glyph for "road" Used in decipherment
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Pyramids
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Made of earth in Preclassic and stone in Classic Often built over each other Represented sacred mountains
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Patio Group
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Large household built around open space
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Ballgame
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Symbolic of warfare Referenced in Popol Vuh Losers often sacrificed
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Teotihuacan
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Major city in central Mexico in Late Preclassic/Early Classic Influence spread across Maya area
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The Aztec Problem
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Teotihuacan was not an Aztec city, but it was an Aztec holy center ("mecca") from which they took a multitude of artifiacts
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Talud-tablero
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Distinctive Teotihuacano architecture Slope, then straight, then slope, then straight
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Spider Woman/Great Goddess
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Main deity of Teotihuacan
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Feathered Serpent
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Teotihuacano god Predecessor to Aztec's Quetzalcoatl
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War Serpent
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Teotihuacano god Adopted by Maya as a symbol of power and military might
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Pachuca Obsidian
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Obsidian whose trade was controlled by Teotihuacan
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Thin Orange Ceramics
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Ceramic style of Teotihuacan
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Tikal
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Late Preclassic/Classic lowlands site Teotihuacano influence Rivalry with Calakmul
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Sihyaj K'ahk'
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General under Spearthrower Owl Killed Chak Tok Ich'aak I and conquered Tikal Coronated Yax Nuun Ahiin Went on to conquer Uaxactun, El Zotz
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Yax Nuun Ahiin I (pr. Yash Noon Ahiin)
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Son of Spearthrower Owl King of Tikal after Chak Tok Ich'aak I Overlord of Copan and Yax K'uk' Mo'
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K'inich Yax K'uk' Mo' (pr. Keen-eetch Yash Kook Mo)
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King of Copan in 426 AD Teotihuacano influence Subject to Yax Nuun Ahiin I Buried in Hunal Tomb w/wrist fracture
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Copan
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Classic lowlands site on SE border New dynasty started by Yax K'uk' Mo' Used volcanic tuff for stele Teotihuacano influence Not much warfare, emphasized priestly class
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Diego de Landa
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Spanish priest who burned Maya books Wrote down a basic Maya syllabary Became Bishop of Yucatan
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Dresden Codex
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Oldest surviving book from Americas Instrumental in deciphering hieroglyphs
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Linda Schele
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Brought Maya research to public Worked at Palenque, Temple of Inscriptions Trained David Stuart
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Calendar Round
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Combination of tzolkin and haab calendars Repeats every 52 years
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Long Count
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Marks time forward from Aug 13 3114 BC Dot is one, bar is five 20.20.20.18.20
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Tzolkin
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260 day "sacred" calendar
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Haab
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360+5 day "civil" calendar
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K'in
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"Sun" or "Sun God"
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K'inich Ajaw (pr. keen-eetch ahow)
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"Sun King", "Sun God", or "Radiant Lord"
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Takalik Abaj
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Middle Preclassic Pacific Coast site Stone monuments, long count, quatrefoil figure
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San Andres
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5000 BC site on the Gulf Coast First evidence of Mesoamerican maize agriculture
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Paso de la Amada
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Early Preclassic Pacific Coast site Communal architecture Earliest ballcourt
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Middle Preclassic
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1000-400 BC Olmec, Pacific Coast
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Late Preclassic
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400-250 AD Epi-Olmec, Pacific Coast, Maya
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Early Classic
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250-600 AD
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Late Classic
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600-900 AD
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Stela
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Stone monument with bas-relief carvings
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Principal Bird Deity (PBD)
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Deity representing heavens and rulership Represented as a large bird
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Tollan
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"Place of reeds" (ideal city) El Mirador, Teotihuacan
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Chak Tok Ich'aak I
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Ruler of Tikal killed by Sihyaj K'ahk'
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Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II
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Son of Yax Nuun Ahiin I Half Teotihuacano, half Tikalese Took name of Tikal ruler to cement reign
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El Zotz
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Classic lowlands site El Diablo temple structure Conquered by Sihyaj K'ahk'
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Arrival of the Strangers
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378 AD Sihyaj K'ahk' arrives near Tikal
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Calakmul
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Middle Preclassic/Classic lowlands site Capital of the Snake Kingdom 635 AD onwards Rivalry with Tikal
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Baah
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The metaphorical/ephemeral body
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K'uh
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Closest word to "god" in Maya, but is more like the Force from Star Wars Maya believed that everything, even objects, were imbued with k'uh
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Theosynthesis
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The merging of two or more deities into a single entity
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Hero Twins
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"Demigods" of the Popol Vuh Many adventures including playing the ballgame against the gods of the underworld and eventually killing them in vengeance for killing their father
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Pawahtun/Bakab
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Ancient gods that hold up the sky
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Xibalba
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"Place of Fear" ie the underworld
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Itzamnaaj
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"Head" of the Maya pantheon Elder, inventor of writing and patron of learning Associated with rulership
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Ix/Chak Chel
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"Lady Rainbow," wife of Itzamnaaj Rainbows very ominous and linked to creation/destruction
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Jaguar God of the Underworld
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One of the forms of K'inich Ajaw (the sun god) and the 3rd patron of Palenque Nocturnal, sun becomes a jaguar when it travels through the underworld
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Ix Ch'up
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Young moon goddess Depicted sexually, usually naked
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Chak
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Rain god, extremely fickle 4 versions, one for each direction Wields a thunderbolt axe
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Way (pr. Why)
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Companion spirits to humans Animalistic, live in the wild
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K'awiil
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Embodiment of lightning
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Alux (pr. alush)
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Mischievous forest sprites
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Ajaw (pr. Ahow)
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Lord/ruler lit. "He who shouts"
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K'uhul Ajaw (pr. Koo-hool Ahow)
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Classic period title meaning "holy lord"
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# K'atun Lord
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K'atun = roughly 20 years, so rulers would describe how long they ruled by giving themselves a title such as "5 k'atun lord"
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Emblem Glyph
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Each polity had its own glyphic identifier that shows up in monuments from other polities
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Kaloomte' (pr. Ka-loam-tay)
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Overlord
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6 Roles of the Ajaw
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Lead sacrificer Dancer Consumer Assembler of Wealth Intermediary w/gods Warrior
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Ya-ajaw
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Underlord/vassal lit. "His lord"
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Nobility
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A condition of social and aesthetic refinement Goal is to make inequality seem legitimate
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Territorial Nobles
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Nobles on the border of a site's lands Often more militarized than curial nobles, also usually had their own estates or small palaces
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Curial Nobles
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Nobles who lived at court with the ajaw
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Aj-Kuhuun
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Highest noble class Scribes and scholars lit. "He who venerates"
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Yajaw K'ahk'
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Priestly nobles lit. "Lord of Fire"
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Sajal
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Military nobles/generals Many had subtitles like "Head Spear"
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Yax Ehb Xook
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Founder of Tikal Dynasty in 80-90 AD lit. "First Step Shark"
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Tikal Stela 31
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Commissioned by Sihyaj Chan K'awiil II Depicts himself and his father Yax Nuun Ahiin Associates himself with line back to Yax Ehb Xook Rounded on top to look like maize god's belt
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Caracol Altar 21
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Describes the Star War against Tikal Snake dynasty of Calakmul and Caracol allied to defeat Tikal in the mid 500s AD
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Jasaw Chan K'awiil I
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Ruler of Tikal in 695 AD Defeated snake dynasty, captured patron deity and ajaw, led Tikal to its peak Revenge campaign against El Zotz, Caracol, etc.
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Ixlu and Jimbal
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Small sites that used the Tikal emblem glyph in the early 800s AD
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Dzibanche
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Original location of the Snake Dynasty from the 200s AD to 635 AD North of Calakmul
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The Dynastic Vases
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Vases found in the Mirador Basin that describe the lineage of the Snake Kings No long count dates
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Chiik Nahb
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Calakmul structure with paintings of Maya marketplace life
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Ux te' tuun
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Ancient name of Calakmul Three stone place? (reference to hearth)
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Yuknoom Ch'en II (the Great)
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Snake King during the Golden Age of Calakmul (636 AD - 686 AD) Oversaw Bajlaj Chan K'awiil at Dos Pilas Kaloomte' of many lowland sites
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Bajlaj Chan K'awiil
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Brother of Tikal ruler who split off and founded the site of Dos Pilas
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Tonina
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Classic Western site Rival of Palenque Last lowland long count date: 909 AD
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Palenque
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Classic Western site Ruled by Bone Dynasty Palenque Triad pantheon
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Toktahn
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Early name for Palenque or a site near Palenque
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Lakamha
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Classic Maya name for Palenque lit. "Big water"
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Palenque Round Tables
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Archaeology conferences to discuss work at Palenque Didn't invite Mexican archaeologists at first
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Palenque Triad
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Main Palenque pantheon GI: morning version of K'inich Ajaw GII: baby K'awiil GIII: jaguar god of the underworld
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K'uk Bahlam I
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Founder of the Bone Dynasty 431 AD
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Lady Yohl Ik'nal
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Ruled Palenque AD 583 - 604 One of few actual legitimate Maya queens "Axed" by Snake Dynasty in 599
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K'inich Janaab Pakal I (the Great)
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Ruled Palenque AD 615 - 683 Expanded palace and architecture Gave refuge to Tikal ruler during civil war Buried in the Temple of the Inscriptions
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Temple of the Inscriptions
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Palenque burial site of Pakal the Great Built by his son K'inich Kan Bahlam II
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K'inich Kan Bahlam II
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Ruled Palenque AD 684 - 702 Eldest son of Pakal the Great Built cross group, connected self to father
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Cross Group
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Temples dedicated to Palenque Triad Built by Pakal the Great's son K'inich Kan Bahlam II Explorers thought they saw Christian imagery
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Zapatistas
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Modern Maya-Mexican resistance group Led by Subcomandante Marcos War of weapons became a war of words
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Quirigua
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SE site controlled by Copan, near jade source 30ft stele, zoomorphic altars Cauac Sky assassinates 18 Rabbit in 738 AD
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Rosalila Structure
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Red temple built over Margarita Temple Elaborate stucco imagery Overuse of wooden resources
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18 Rabbit
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13th ruler of Copan from AD 695-738 Dedicated all Great Plaza stele to himself Started hieroglyphic stairway Assassinated by Cauac Sky
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Yax Pasaj Chan Yopat
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16th ruler of Copan from AD 763-810 Copan Altar Q - depicts Yopat and dynastic line back to Yax K'uk Mo', who is now a divine ancestor
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Maize
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Staple food of Mesoamerican civilizations Embodied in the maize god representing life
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Three Sisters
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Maize, beans, and squash The staple foods of Mesoamerica
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Manioc
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Root crop indigenous to the Amazon Similar to tapioca
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Cacao
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The chocolate seed Drank as a bitter, chile-infused drink Used as a form of currency
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Joya de Ceren
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"Pompeii of the New World" Technically outside of Maya lands Helped archaeologists understand rural life
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Phosphate Analyses
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Studies that show trace elements in the soil Effective for determine activities that occurred at that spot (i.e., fires, cooking, etc).
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Aguateca
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Dual capital of Dos Pilas situated in a defensible position Dynasty moved to Aguateca after fall of Dos Pilas Attacked and destroyed in 800 AD
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Ceibal
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Main rival of Dos Pilas Conquered by Dos Pilas Ruler 3 Resurgence in 849 AD
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Piedras Negras
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River kingdom that guarded highlands and controlled trade Rival of Yaxchilan Ruler 7 beheaded by Yaxchilan in 808 AD, ending dynasty
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Yaxchilan
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River kingdom focused on terracing Rival of Piedras Negras 17th ruler: Bird Jaguar IV, great warrior 19th ruler conquered Piedras Negras in 808 AD
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The Puuc Region
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Northern lowlands region that survived past the Terminal Classic "collapse" Population explosion in 750 AD
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Uxmal
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Capital of Puuc region from c.750-950 AD
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Problems with the Terminal Classic "collapse"
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Early archaeologists tried to force-fit the Maya into the rise fall pattern of the Romans More of a transition/decline Combination of social, political, economic, and ecological factors depending on the region
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Kiuic
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City in the Puuc region where Seligson works Evidence that people lived in Puuc before southern collapse Stairway to Heaven plantation house
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Xocnaceh (pr. shohk-na-kay)
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Huge square plaza in Puuc region above jungle dated to 500BC Evidence of trade center
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Cult of Quetzalcoatl
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Postclassic religious cult that took over political life Designated by the Teotihuacano feathered serpent Caused political instability Reference to Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl (unsure if he actually arrived at Chichen Itza at one point)
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Chichen Itza
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Pilgrimage center from the Early Classic, became a cosmopolitan center in the Terminal Classic Tied to rise of Toltec capital of Tula in central Mexico Cessation of elite activity: 1050 AD
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Mayapan
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Last great Maya capital, took over after Chichen Itza Key families: Kokom and Xiu Split into independent provinces after reign
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Cacaxtla and Xochicalco
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Central Mexico sites that tried to take over after Teotihuacan fell in 550 AD Blended Teotihuacano and Maya influences
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Tula
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Eventually took over after Teotihuacan around 950 AD Toltec-Chichimeca capital Very similar to Chichen Itza (possibly emulating their power), with pyramids, caryatids, ballcourts
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Toltecs
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A Central Mexican ethnic group that was united with the Chichimeca by Mixcoatl Founded Tula
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Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl
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Son of Mixcoatl, leader of the Toltecs Founded Tula Became the "good" god of Tula Hernan Cortes was thought to be an incarnation of the god Quetzalcoatl
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Tezcatlipoca
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Rival of Quetzalcoatl Became the "bad" god of Tula
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The Caracol
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Observatory for the passage of Venus at Chichen Itza Built before 800 AD
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Xcambo
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Northwestern coastal trade port during the Postclassic
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Balankanche
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Cave beneath Chichen Itza with a stalagmite that forms the axis mundi
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Hunak Ke'el
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First ruler of Mayapan Survived a night in the sacred cenote and gave the prophecy from Chak that he was to be king Fought war against Chichen Itza because they stole the bride of the ruler of Izamal
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Itza Maya
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Maya ethnic group from the southwest who wandered throughout the Yucatan before settling at Chichen Itza Ruler called himself K'uk'ulkan II "Founded" Mayapan and associated themselves with the Kokom lineage
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Francisco Montejo el Adelantado
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Tried to conquer Yucatan in 1520s Didn't use techniques of Cortes, failed a lot Started at Cozumel and Xelha on the east, scuttled own ships and had to be rescued, then went to the west at Campeche Allied with Xiu and tried to find El Dorado
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Francisco Montejo el Mozo
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Son of Montejo el Adelantado Tried to capture Chichen Itza but failed Established second stronghold at Merida in 1542
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Salamanca de Xelha
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First attempted Spanish stronghold on the eastern Yucatan, but fell pretty quickly Now a water park
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Campeche
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First Spanish stronghold on the western Yucatan
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Merida
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Second Spanish stronghold on the western Yucatan, more inland than Campeche Built on top of Ti' Ho
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Xiu
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Maya ethnic group who took over Mayapan after the Kokom Allied with the Spanish Massacred by Kokom during a drought in 1530s
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Chan Santa Cruz
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Cult of Talking Cross combined Christianity and the Maya religion Remained an independent site until 1933
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Pedro de Alvarado
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Spanish leader sent to conquer Guatemala (aka Maya highlands) with a force of 20k soldiers in 1523 Allied with Kaqchikel against the K'ichee', then betrayed them "Pretty much a psychopath" - Ken
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Tecun Uman
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Maya folk hero Leader of K'ichee' at the time of Alvarado's conquest Faced off against Alvarado in single combat, killed his horse but then got speared Represented by a male quetzal
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Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
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Mexican priest who called for independence from Spain in 1810 Wrote the Cry of Delores De facto leader of the revolutionary army who got out of hand and started murdering peninsulares Hanged in 1811
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Agustin de Iturbide
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Former peninsular officer who switched sides c.1815 3 guarantees: religion, independence, union Defeated Spanish peninsulares, became Mexican emperor for 2 years
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Benito Juarez
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Democratically elected Mexican president in 1858 New constitution, canceled payment on European debts Forced out by French noble named Maximilien von Hapsburg in 1861 (French mad about debts) US gave Juarez an army and helped him take back Mexico in 1865
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El Porfiriato
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Dictator of Mexico (1876-1911) Motto: Order and Progress Increased division of wealth
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Emiliano Zapata
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Fought for indigenous land/liberty during the Mexican Revolution (1911-1920) Constitution of 1917 Zapatistas named after him
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Lakandon Maya
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Chiapas Maya people who held out until 20th century, very traditional rituals and lifestyle
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Guatemalan Civil War
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1960 - 1996 proxy war between US and Soviet Union Guerrilla leftist group vs military dictatorship Genocide by Death Squads of Maya people who were caught in the crossfire
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Rigoberta Menchu
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Wrote about Guatemalan atrocities 1992 Nobel Peace Prize (offered @ Aztec temple)
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Efrain Rios Montt
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Most recent Guatemalan dictator Gave himself immunity to prosecution Sentenced to prison but was overturned
