Maya lived in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and parts of El Salvador and Honduras around 2500 BC, and there were about 2 million people who used Mayan language, belonging to Maya-Quiche family of Indian language family.
In A.D. 1502, when Columbus sailed to America for the last time, he found a beautifully made Mayan pottery basin in the local market on lush land. Since then, the magical name "Maya" has been introduced to Europe for the first time.
15 19, Spanish explorer Hernando Cortes led the Spanish army to sweep across Mexico, conquered the empire in the heyday of civilization and destroyed the Aztec civilization.
At this point, the Mayan civilization is coming to an end. 1526, a Spanish expedition went to Yucatan Peninsula and tried to establish a Spanish colony through violence. The unyielding Maya waged guerrilla warfare for more than a hundred years. 1697, the last Mayan city-state disappeared in the fire of Spain.
Extended data:
First of all, the modern Maya branch
Yucatan Maya, who once lived in Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and extended to northern Belize and northeastern Guatemala;
A small number of Lacandon are located in the border area between Usumacinta and Guatemala in southern Mexico, and a few live in Guatemala and Belize;
The ethnic groups living in the highlands of eastern and central Guatemala include Quiche, Kekeqi, Picomoxi, Pocomam, Uspantek, CaKechker, Tusil and Zacaputek.
Ethnic groups living in the highlands of western Guatemala, including Mam, Teco, Aguacatec and Ixil.
Ethnic groups living in Huehuetenango province and its neighboring Mexican areas include Kanhawad, Motozintec, Tuzantek, Hakar Altec, Jacaltec and Toyolabal.
Tzotzil and Tzeltal, who live in Chiapas in southern Mexico, include ethnic groups who speak Chontal and Chol in Chiapas and Tabasco in northern Mexico, and Chol ethnic groups who live in the eastern end of Guatemala and have languages similar to the first two languages (Chol).
A member of the Huastec people living in northern Veracruz and neighboring San Luis Potosi in central and eastern Mexico.
Second, the introduction of modern Maya
Modern Mayans are mainly engaged in agriculture, planting corn, broad beans, pumpkins, cocoa, sweet potatoes, peppers, tobacco, cotton and so on.
Living in communities around a central village. There are public buildings and houses in the central village. In most cases, houses are empty, and sometimes people live for a long time. In addition to festivals and fairs, community residents also live in their own farmhouses.
Generally speaking, women's clothing is still in the traditional form, while men wear more modern ready-made clothes, most of which are sewn with factory-woven fabrics.
Use traditional farm tools such as hoes and shovels to cultivate land; Yucatan people usually raise pigs and chickens, and occasionally raise cattle.
There is little industry, and handicrafts are usually just for family needs. Some cash crops or local specialties are sold in exchange for cash to buy items that are lacking locally.
Almost all Mayans believe in Catholicism in name, but generally they have the color of local religion. His cosmology is a typical Mayan form, and Christian holy figures are usually confused with Mayan gods. Popular religion basically believes in Christianity, celebrating Mass and Saint's Day. Pre-Colombian indigenous religions are still believed by families.
References:
Baidu encyclopedia-Maya