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Mayan Social Organisation - Coggle Diagram
Mayan Social Organisation
Law and Order
The laws in a Mayan state were issue by a Halach Uinic, or supreme ruler of chief + his council, which presided over a Mayan Kuchkabal.
Kuchkabals were large state. There were approximately 16-24 in Mayan during the 16th Century.
These laws were exercised by the Batabs, villages chiefs, who saw over the Batabils, villages or towns.
The Batabs issued punishments based on the crimes commited and whether it was accidental or intentional.
Punishments were carried out immediately.
Crimes like disrespecting the gods, arson, and murder were punishable by death. Other punishments could have been imprisonment or fines.
The individual states, sometimes Batabils, were ruled by the Batabs, which were connected through trades/alliances.
Court cases were held in a building called a Popilna.
Everyone
was subject to the law.
Politics and Hierarchy
Men were most predominant in hierarchy, but as society developed, women gained power.
Rulers were believed to be in contact with the gods and were said to be commanded by them.
Rulers were believed to be descendants of gods, having political and divine power.
The chief obligations were both religious and military.
The lineage of succession was patrilineal.
Rough Hierarchy: Halach Uinich >= Council > Priests > Batabil > Tubiles > Nobles > Commoners > Servants/Slaves
Education
Special priests taught nobles' children.
They were taught mathematics, astronomy, medicine, writing, and science, and more.
There wasn't any formal schooling for commoner children as they mostly followed after their parents.
By the age of 4-5, commoner children were giving daily errands/chores.
Boys learnt after their fathers, and girls, after their mothers.
By the age of 15, children were considered fully grown and able to be trained for their profession.
Jobs/Roles
HIERARCHY
King / Halach Uinic
Priests
Nobles
Commoners
Servants
Slaves
Jobs like merchants, warriors, engineers, architects, physicians, artisans, craftsmen, farmers, government officials, administrators
Wealthy nobles were involved in polygany.
Extreme Religious importance
Most educated in writing, mathematics, astronomy and calendars
Extreme amounts of upward hierarchical movement, where lower class could move to middle class, middle class to noble officials etc.
Done through success in business, commerce, wars etc..
Males predominately ruled. However females were eventually recognised as the Mayan society progressed.
If the ruler died without an heir, the widow could take their place.
There were regents for young rulers.
Mayans were usually married around the age of 20, the marriage had to be approved by the groom's father.
Women
Women worked in creating basic cloth and textile, also creating designs and artworks with them.
They were not commonly a part of religious system or hierarchy. But in the
Post Classical
period, they were priestesses in temples.
They had roles in agriculture, like looking after animals and farming.
They were essential to Mayan society.