Tikal
Tikal is a prominent archaeological site located in the central lowlands of Guatemala, recognized as a significant city of the ancient Maya civilization. By the first century BCE, Tikal was already engaged in large-scale construction and extensive trade networks that reached the Caribbean and highland regions. As it evolved into a major urban center by the Classic period (250-600 CE), Tikal became the capital of a powerful state, home to a royal dynasty, and a hub for trade connections with other significant cities, including Teotihuacán. During its peak, from approximately 600 to 800 CE, Tikal was marked by the construction of over four thousand monumental structures across an area of 6.3 square miles. The population during this time is estimated to have been between 60,000 and 90,000. Factors such as invasions, ecological degradation, overpopulation, and migration contributed to Tikal's decline, leading to its abandonment by the tenth century CE. Today, Tikal stands as a testament to the architectural and cultural achievements of the Maya civilization, inviting exploration and reflection on its historical significance.
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Tikal
Related civilization: Maya.
Date: 200-900 c.e.
Locale: Northern Guatemala
Tikal
Tikal (tee-KAHL) is located in the central lowlands, an area known as the cradle of Maya civilization. It became one of the largest and most important cities in the area. By the first century b.c.e., large-scale construction was under way, and commerce extended east to the Caribbean and south to the highlands.
By the beginning of the Classic period (250-600 c.e.), Tikal had become the capital of a state society, the seat of the royal dynasty, and the center of a trade area that included trade with Teotihuacán, the great urban center of the Mexican highlands. During this period, the Maya developed hieroglyphic writing, extended their knowledge of astronomy and math, and created their calendars. The height of Maya civilization occurred between 600 and 800 c.e. Tikal became one of the most monumental sites ever constructed by the Maya. More than four thousand structures were built in an area of 6.3 square miles (16.3 square kilometers). Population estimates range between 60,000 and 90,000 in the sixth century c.e.
Invasions, ecological damage, overpopulation, and migration contributed to Tikal’s dramatic decline between 800 and 900 c.e. By the tenth century c.e., Tikal had been abandoned.
Bibliography
Henderson, John S. The World of the Ancient Maya. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1997.
Sabloff, Jeremy A., and John S. Henderson, eds. Lowland Maya Civilization in the Eighth Century a.d. Washington, D.C.: Dunbarton Oaks, 1993.
Schmidt, Peter, Mercedes de la Garza, and Enrique Nalda. Maya. New York: Rizzoli International, 1998.