Maya
History in Belize Earliest known record of inhabitation around 2500 B.C. Peak of civilization A.D. 250 to A.D. 1000 At least 400,000 inhabited Belize Defeated by the British in 1867 and 1872 Integrated into Belizean society Cuello in Northern Belize Decline soil exhaustion, disease, or the peasants revolting and massacring the priests
Overview Account for 11% of the population Two Mayan languages and multiple dialects spoken Northern Maya (Yucateco) Kekchi Two distinct groups Mopan Many speak English and Spanish
Kekchi Maya Originally from the Verapaz region of Guatemala Migrated in late 1800s Most self reliant ethnic group in Belize Belize’s poorest and most neglected ethnic group 1800slost land and freedom to German coffee growers
Mopan Maya Originally from Central Belize and Guatemala Converted to Catholicism in 1600’s Migrated back to Belize late 1800’s Eventually settled in modern day San Antonio (largest Mopan settlement in Belize)
Religion Practice Catholicism Continue rituals and traditions as the old Maya Gods replaced with santos 260 ritual calendar kept by shaman Ancient ways take place in caves and places of the sort Santos=Saints Rituals included sacrificing and drinking certain type of alcoholic drink
Economics Depended mostly on trading with neighboring Maya communities in the past Subsistence crops and cash crops Industrial development negative notion Support themselves also through hunting and the production of arts and crafts Latter part of 1800s, trading changed course people of other ethnic groups began arriving into Maya communities to purchase domestic animals and other commodities 1950s introduction of mechanized farming, couldn’t afford/finance type of work, so they continue traditional way of living
Government Modern Maya of Southern Belize in a long-standing conflict with Belizean government http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXKKNBZtMDE Battle with government about land rights of the Maya Government argued that since Maya left Belize for a short time when they were driven out by the British, they did not have rights to the land and were “new immigrants” to the country. Government ended up appealing the 2010 decision Maya are seen as the underclass in Belize
Family Punishments are rare with children Family extremely important Women take care of children and housework Women marry and have children as early as 14 years old Children observe and work with people of all ages Punishments are rare with children Maya families raise their own food (gardens, animals)
Education Modern Maya believe that education is important for them to participate in modern society and to also preserve traditions. Little information on education (Why?)
Sources http://www.southernbelize.com/hist_mayan.html http://www.northernbelize.com/cult_mayan.html http://www.belmopancityonline.com/belize-maya-mayan.aspx http://www.ize2belize.com/learn-about-belize/#history http://personal.psu.edu/mzy108/maya%20project/mayantoday.html http://oldweb.geog.berkeley.edu/ProjectsResources/MayanAtlas/MayaAtlas/economics.htm http://www.belizeadventure.ca/maya/ http://penn.museum/documents/publications/expedition/PDFs/54-1/The-Modern-Maya-and-Recent-History.pdf