Maya History in Belize Earliest known record of

Maya

History in Belize Earliest known record of inhabitation around 2500 B. C. Peak of civilization A. D. 250 to A. D. 1000 At least 400, 000 inhabited Belize Defeated by the British in 1867 and 1872 Integrated into Belizean society

Overview Account for 11% of the population Two Mayan languages and multiple dialects spoken Northern Maya (Yucateco) Kekchi Two distinct groups Mopan Kekchi

Kekchi Maya Originally from the Verapaz region of Guatemala Migrated in late 1800 s Most self reliant ethnic group in Belize’s poorest and most neglected ethnic group

Mopan Maya Originally from Central Belize and Guatemala Converted to Catholicism in 1600’s Migrated back to Belize late 1800’s Eventually settled in modern day San Antonio (largest Mopan settlement in Belize)

Religion Practice Catholicism Continue rituals and traditions as the old Maya Gods replaced with santos 260 ritual calendar kept by shaman Ancient ways take place in caves and places of the sort

Economics Depended mostly on trading with neighboring Maya communities in the past Subsistence crops and cash crops Industrial development negative notion Support themselves also through hunting and the production of arts and crafts

Government Modern Maya of Southern Belize in a long-standing conflict with Belizean government http: //www. youtube. com/w atch? v=o. XKKNBZt. MDE

Family extremely important Women take care of children and housework Women marry and have children as early as 14 years old Children observe and work with people of all ages Punishments are rare with children Maya families raise their own food (gardens, animals)

Education Modern Maya believe that education is important for them to participate in modern society and to also preserve traditions. Little information on education (Why? )

Sources http: //www. southernbelize. com/hist_mayan. html http: //www. northernbelize. com/cult_mayan. html http: //www. belmopancityonline. com/belize-mayan. aspx http: //www. ize 2 belize. com/learn-about-belize/#history http: //personal. psu. edu/mzy 108/maya%20 project/mayantoday. h tml http: //oldweb. geog. berkeley. edu/Projects. Resources/Mayan. Atla s/Maya. Atlas/economics. htm http: //www. belizeadventure. ca/maya/ http: //penn. museum/documents/publications/expedition/PDFs/5 4 -1/The-Modern-Maya-and-Recent-History. pdf