Becky

Becky Engeleiter Mr. Finch Ancient World History December 7, 2010 The Mayan Civilization: 2012 Prophesies Research Paper Synopsis:

Thesis Statement:

Therefore because the Mayans were deeply rooted in spirituality and focused on the patterns of the universe, they believed that both the world and its people would go through significant changes in the year 2010. Even though scientists and historians have not validated the Mayan prophesies, the Mayan’s predictions show the complexity of not only their spiritual life and culture, but also of their intellectual thought process.

The Mayan civilization’s strong religious beliefs and unified culture drove their creation of the Mayan calendar and their interest in math and science. Because the basis of the Mayan culture was so rooted and their faith in the gods so prominent, learning and discovering about the world/universe became a manageable process (Carter 5-6). The Mayans effortlessly combined science and religion, a task that even today can seem impossible. Instead of their religious beliefs and scientific discoveries interfering with each other, the two parts of the Mayan culture worked together in harmony (Aveni 67). While some people have concluded, due to the Mayan calendar, that the world will end in 2012, many researchers believe that the world will merely end how people know it. Even though some people believe in this prophesy, because the December 21, 2012 Solstice marks the completion of the 5,125 year ‘Great Cycle’ of the Ancient Maya Long Count Calendar, these skeptics fail to understand the Mayan culture entirely. The Mayan civilization was connected to the gods and their spiritual life, but also created one of the most accurate calendars of their time, thus making them one of the most studied Mesoamerican civilizations (Houston 52).

Citations:

Aveni, Anthony. //The End of Time: The Maya Mystery of 2012//. Boulder: University Press of Colorado, 2009.

Carter, Milton. "Mayan Religion." //East Tennessee State University//. (1996)

Houston, Stephen D. "Classic Maya Religion: Beliefs and Practices of an Ancient American People." //BYU Studies//. (1999)

Popol Vuh:

The Popol Vuh is not only the most important highland Maya text in terms of its historical and mythological content, it is also a sublime work of literature, composed in rich and elegant poetry. In this respect it can be compared with other great epic poems of the ancient world such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata of India, or the Iliad and Odyssey of Greece.

THIS IS THE ACCOUNT of when all is still silent and placid.49 All is silent and calm.50 Hushed51 and empty is the womb of the sky. THESE, then, are the first words, the first speech. There is not yet one person, one animal, bird, fish, crab, tree, rock, hollow, canyon, meadow, or forest. All alone the sky exists. The face of the earth has not yet appeared. Alone lies the expanse of the sea, along with the womb of all the sky. There is not yet anything gathered together. All is at rest. Nothing stirs. All is languid, at rest in the sky. There is not yet anything standing erect. Only the expanse of the water, only the tranquil sea lies alone.52 There is not yet anything that might exist. All lies placid and silent in the darkness, in the night.

(http://www.diego-rivera-foundation.org/The-Creation-of-the-Earth,-page-from-Popol-Vuh.html) (Creation of the Earth from the Popol Vuh)

This is the account of how all was in suspense, all calm, in silence; all motionless, still, and the expanse of the sky was empty.  This is the first account, the first narrative. There was neither man, nor animal, birds, fishes, crabs, trees, stones, caves, ravines, grasses, nor forests; there was only the sky.  The surface of the earth had not appeared. There was only the calm sea and the great expanse of the sky.  There was nothing brought together, nothing which could make a noise, nor anything which might move, or tremble, or could make noise in the sky.  There was nothing standing; only the calm water, the placid sea, alone and tranquil. Nothing existed.  There was only immobility and silence in darkness, in the night. Only the Creator, the Maker, Tepeu, Gucumatz, the Forefathers,* were in the water surrounded with light.** They were hidden under green and blue feathers, and were therefore called Gucumatz. By nature they were great sages and great thinkers.

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What I learned from the Popol Vuh: The Mayan Creation Story:

From the Popol Vuh I learned about the origins of the gods and what the Mayans believed to be the beginning of the world. There version of The Creation Story supports their spiritual and cultural beliefs. The Mayans’ believed that everything had a spirit, even inanimate objects, therefore the mystical aspects within the Popol Vuh support and clarify the research I did on all the parts of the Mayan Civilization.

Interactive Component:

  What? A picture of a Mayan hieroglyph that represents "to battle" Why? Used in many Mayan documents referring to war. So What? Hieroglyphs were very important in the Mayan Civilization. Many researchers believe that the Mayans took the idea of hieroglyphs from the Olmecs and then expandedthe writing system. The Mayans sophisticated numeric and astrological systems were discoveredby researchers today through their writing system.