Teaching materials

Classic Mayan

When European sailors followed the setting sun and after 10 weeks reached the first islands on the other side of the Atlantic, both Americas were inhabited by millions of people. In particular, Central America was the home of numerous and powerful civilizations, the longest-standing of which was the Maya one.

The Maya left us detailed historical chronicles written in ancient glyphic script in stone, on ceramics and other objects. Maya libraries fell victim to the climate and inquisition and only fragments of 4 survive until today.

Today about 6 mln people still speak one of the 30 contemporary Mayan languages and thanks to the growing world-wide awareness that no culture deserves to be forgotten, more and more people learn to read Maya glyphs, learn the true history of this area and the impressive achievements of ancient American civilization in agriculture, architecture, maths, art and literature.