Mayan vase painting of the classic period (300-900 AD) The origins of Mayan civilization in Central America are not well understood. It probably began as early as 1500 BC; what we are most familiar with is the Classic period, which lasted from about AD 300 to 900, and saw the Mayan civilization flourish in the region. Great ceremonial centers were built throughout the whole of Central America. About 900 AD, however, the Mayan centers were mysteriously abandoned. From 900 AD to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, Mayan civilization centered in Yucatán, Mexico. The Spanish, after their arrival, demolished what was left of Mayan culture; in the late 20th century, the Maya remain as peasants in their former lands. Mayan culture produced amazing art and architecture. Ruins remain at a large number of places in Central America. These sites were vast centers for religious ceremonies, and included a number of pyramidal mounds, with temples or other buildings, grouped around open plazas. Exteriors of buildings belonging to the wealthy were lavishly decorated with painted sculpture, carved lintels, stucco moldings, and stone mosaics. Agriculture was the basis of the Mayan economy, and corn was the main crop, although cotton, beans, squash, and cacao were also grown. The techniques of spinning, dyeing, and weaving cotton were highly perfected. The Maya domesticated the dog and the turkey, but had no draft animals or wheeled vehicles. They produced fine pottery. Cacao beans and copper bells were used as money. Copper, gold, silver, jade, shells, and colorful feathers were used as ornaments. Metal tools, however, were unknown. The tribes were ruled by hereditary chiefs; land held in common by each village was parceled out by village chieftains to separate families. Mayan art gave almost free reign to the artist, who was not required to produce a work that fit any particular rules or guidelines. Individual genius and its variations from one place to another produced products which were intended to be given or sold to the royalty of other cities. The study of these art works and the meaning they held for Mayans is called 'iconography'. Copan, in Honduras, is a site where many artworks of the Mayan culture remain. In particular, carvings called 'stelae' (inscribed stone slabs and pillars) show that the Mayans were capable of beautiful work, and used a lot of colour. Art has also been recovered from Guatemala and other nearby countries. In addition, the Maya in Mexico and the northern part of Central America produced intricate relief carvings ... sculpture in which the figures project from a background surface. This relief art either adorned buildings, or stood alone as stelae. Mayan sculpture often depicted rulers, gave dates and other information about them, and recorded important events. Females are depicted in many types of Mayan art. One common form is the clay figurine. As well, animals, birds, gods, mythical creatures, , and other deities of Mayan culture were depicted on pottery, as well as in sculpture. Pottery in the form of vases and bowls was often decorated with intricate paintings. Mayan art was probably produced only by the wealthy, as most people who lived in the culture were farmers who had to work hard to make a daily living. In fact, it is presumed that most of the art was done by sons of kings or other royalty, and that the artworks produced were given as gifts or sold to other wealthy landowners. Nevertheless, the art of pre-Columbus Central America as produced by the Mayan civilization during its Classic period is unrivalled in ancient times in its scope, beauty, and use of colour. Resources