The Changes Of The Mayan Civilization From Late Preclassic To Early Classic Period
When referring to most civilizations of the past, what sparks in our minds is often its golden age. The period in which a civilization’s development in its societal structure and people reach maximum prosperity, stability and happiness. It is also commonly known to be the Classical period. With the Mayan civilization, however, the transition between the Late Preclassic period and the Early Classic period between 150AD and 300D marks crucial changes in the mayan culture that influenced the civilization’s development towards the Middle and Late Classic periods. In particular, the Preclassic decline of the Mayans demonstrates to us how a civilization shifted from foundational developments towards the epitome of its history that is the Classic period. And to engage in discussion of the Early Classical period means that the Late Preclassic period should be respected in its aid for set up in reaching the widely seeked golden age.
The decline of Classic Maya is widely discussed, but the decline of the Preclassic Maya is often not know nearly as much. Though we may not be able to know the exact cause that led to the Preclassic decline of the Mayan civilization, what we do know that it was likely due to a multitude of factors leading to the collapse and diving into the Classic period.
One of the most prominent changes from Late Preclassic to Early Classic Maya is the development of Architectural technique and focus, where construction mass of pyramids have declined greatly. From observation, pyramids of the Late Preclassic Maya would exceed all Early Classic Mayan pyramids in construction mass. Late Preclassic Mayan pyramids had a wide base, did not reach great heights and were very thick. On the other hand, Early Classic Mayan pyramids had a very small base, a slim geometric design that would extend to much greater heights than previous Late Preclassic pyramid designs. The likely cause for this is the emphasis on agricultural activities during the Late Preclassic period as observed from the extensive agricultural terraces found for this period of time. As during this period, agriculture was the civilization’s primary economical dependent, which though was described as “self-sufficient”, did bring the Mayans agricultural wealth that allowed for extensive labor work to be undercarried for constructions of particularly large architectural structures. The Preclassic period’s labor workers utilized rather large blocks of stone on the exterior of the pyramid which many researchers have believed was to demonstrate publicly their civilization’s impressive control and resources over labor at the time. On the other hand, Early Classic Mayan pyramids were built fundamentally with smaller blocks of stone that focused more on its aesthetic and internal stability previously emphasized in the Preclassic period. Therefore, it is without a doubt that the Early Classic Maya did preserve basic Late Preclassic Mayan architectural forms, but the change in circumstances of agricultural activity has caused changes to occur in the architectural emphasis towards new pyramid designs.
Apart from Mayan architecture’s change as displayed in the civilization’s pyramid designs, the construction of defensive structures at Mayan centers against war violence has also demonstrated the change in the Late Preclassic and Early Classic Maya in terms of priorities as a civilization. There is no shortage of evidence when it comes to show that violence and conflict was a central element for a human to be living in the Mayan civilization during the Late Preclassic period. for example, El Mirador is equipped with large stone walls on the exterior. At Cerros, in lowland Maya, structures are surrounded by a moat which could all be argued that they were used as defensive strategies. David Webster also suggests that the ditches and sizable walls surrounding the Becan site were also utilized as defensive strategies in the Late Preclassic period.
However, despite the large quantity of evidence that Late Preclassic maya had frequent wars and violence, iconographic as well as epigraphic evidence of the Early Classic period in Maya demonstrated also the abundance of sacrifice and violence but with very little fortification compared to the Late Preclassic period. A cause for this is likely a change in the Mayan system of belief. What once was a period of intensifying battle of war that is the Late Preclassic period, the Early Classic Mayans focused on practicing a more ritualistic form of violence with the majority emphasizing upon the sacrifice of humans. As skeletal evidence as shown, human sacrifice already had its roots in the Preclassic Mayan civilization but with human sacrifice’s increased focus in the Early Classic period, a likely cause for it was that the Mayan authorities recognized that now that war conflict is coming to a rest, to turn towards human sacrifice practices could be a win-win situation for them as it not only openly demonstrates their civilization’s violence for intimidation, it also provided them with affirmation for the principles Mayans believed in coming from supernatural sources.
Moving on from Mayan architecture, the civilization’s water management techniques have also shown extensive change between the Late Preclassic and Early Classic period, informing us greatly in terms of the way ancient Maya used their resources at hand. With further research on wetland sediments, it was concluded that due to overpopulation towards the end of the Preclassic period, deforestation became an issue which ultimately led to altered hydrological conditions of the soil the Mayans used for agriculture. This caused perennial lakers at Mayan sites to transform rapidly into seasonal wetlands. A cause for this during the Late Preclassic period was because most water management systems at the time were in the shape of an inverted bowl that depended greatly upon existing reservoirs limited to lowland regions.
Eventually, water management systems became more convex-like instead of concave shape. This was made possible by utilizing reservoirs that were situated in the highland regions compared to reservoirs used in the lowland regions before in the Late Preclassic period. A cause for this change is likely due to the architectural as well as monumental constructions on hill summits during the beginning of the Early Classic period. With the increase in large Mayan centers being built on summits, elites intended to have the reservoir sources of water be close to these centers in order to centralize control.
Lastly but not least, Mayan ceramics have undergone significant changes between the Late Preclassic and Early Classic period. For instance, Late Preclassic ceramics were for the large part extremely homogeneous, confined to strictly established criterion during design and production. A common example as supporting evidence are ceramics that are known as chicanel. These ceramics were created and used across almost all regions of the Mayan lowlands during the Late Preclassic period, indicating that there was a great degree of consistency in its homogeneity. Very little individual expression is demonstrated on these ceramics.
However, during the Early Classic period, an influx of more distinctive artistic designs of ceramics came into the Mayan civilization. For example, a previously popular technique of adding waxy slips on ceramics was found over time to result in flaking. Therefore, during the Early Classic period, Mayan’s utilized ceramic styles of eastern highlands referred to as “usulutan” style that comprised of ceramics with orange slips along with black and red colored stripes that improved from the previous Late Preclassic ceramic techniques. This was certainly a big step up for the Mayan civilizations for it was the first instance in its history where orange clay was utilized along with the experimentation of geometric polychrome designs and slightly hooked rims. The cause for this was likely due to practical improvement of ceramic functions, but a reason for these new techniques’ wide adaptation entering into the Early Classic period is the migration of Mayans from the southeastern highlands, which encouraged the introduction of these Early Classic traits often referred to as Proto Classic traits as well.
