UNAM
Revista Digital Universitaria
Revista Digital Universitaria ISSN: 1607 - 6079 | Publicación mensual | 1 de junio de 2013 vol.14, No.6

ABSTRACT

The Maya of Yucatan: The loss, exchange and legacy

David Flores Guerrero



When Spanish explorers first entered these lands for the first time at the beginning of the 16th century, they saw one of the greatest geographic marvels of its time. Not only they discovered the splendors of the Maya civilization but they also saw the great opportunity to access Mexico and Central America. Spaniards were motivated by a spirit of adventure and inspired by their religious beliefs and ideals, anxious to find wealth and royal favors by conquering these lands without borders. Through Spanish colonization and the blending of these two cultures, the Maya civilization lost significant parts of their culture: religion, writing and government, however, they were not completely broken; some aspects of their cultures still remains untouched from foreign influences.

Keywords: Conquistadors; Culture; Religion; Writing; Government.