can you please describe their buildings
Mayan buildings included pyramids and temples, along with large elite residences which took time and heavy manpower to construct, as well as more modest commoner's huts.
Maya civilization
Maya architecture also incorporates various art forms and hieroglyphic texts. Masonry architecture built by the Maya evidences craft specialization in Maya society, centralised organization and the political means to mobilize a large workforce. It is estimated that a large elite residence at Copán required an estimated 10,686 man-days to build, which compares to 67-man-days for a commoner's hut. It is further estimated that 65% of the labour required to build the noble residence was used in the quarrying, transporting, and finishing of the stone used in construction, and 24% of the labour was required for the manufacture and application of limestone-based plaster. Altogether, it is estimated that two to three months were required for the construction of the residence for this single noble at Copán, using between 80 and 130 full-time labourers.
how far back can we trace the mayan culture As far as circa 2000 BC what period of history is that? The Archaic period where were they located? The civilization encompassed areas of south-eastern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador. did they practice politics? Yes, there were states and chiefdoms which had fluctuating policies towards one another. did they have societies? The society was hierarchical with a sharp difference between the elite and the commoners. did they fight with each other? Yes, clashes were common between states and chiefdoms. what kind of warriors were they? Well trained, and in the Contact period, their armies were highly disciplined where warriors participated in regular training exercises and drills. did they practice trade as well? Yes, and control of trade routes or access to important trade goods contributed to the growth of cities. describe their merchants? Not much is known about them, but it seems that at least some were members of the elite who engaged in long distance trade, while the majority belonged to the middle class largely involved in local or regional trade. did they have market places? Archaeologists have found traces what could have been formal arcade style masonry architectures and foundations of market stalls; and the Spanish colonialists have written about encountering a thriving market economy.
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Maya civilization [SEP] Architecture
The Maya produced a vast array of structures, and have left an extensive architectural legacy. Maya architecture also incorporates various art forms and hieroglyphic texts. Masonry architecture built by the Maya evidences craft specialization in Maya society, centralised organization and the political means to mobilize a large workforce. It is estimated that a large elite residence at Copán required an estimated 10,686 man-days to build, which compares to 67-man-days for a commoner's hut. It is further estimated that 65% of the labour required to build the noble residence was used in the quarrying, transporting, and finishing of the stone used in construction, and 24% of the labour was required for the manufacture and application of limestone-based plaster.