Knowra Maya peoples Maya peoples The Maya peoples are Indigenous communities of Mesoamerica linked by related Mayan languages and diverse cultural traditions, with histories extending from ancient Maya civilizations to the present.
Mayan languages : A family of Indigenous languages spoken by Maya communities across Mesoamerica. Related languages connect many Maya communities, while their diversity reflects distinct histories and identities.
Mesoamerica : A historical cultural region extending from central Mexico through much of Central America. Maya societies developed within Mesoamerica’s interconnected environments and cultural networks.
Milpa : A traditional Mesoamerican farming system that commonly combines maize, beans, and squash in a managed field. Milpa farming remains a source of food and ecological knowledge for many Maya communities.
Guatemalan Civil War : An armed conflict in Guatemala from 1960 to 1996, marked by state violence and mass displacement. The conflict devastated Maya communities, especially during campaigns targeting Indigenous populations.
Kʼicheʼ people : A Maya people concentrated in Guatemala’s western highlands, with a distinct language and cultural history. Kʼicheʼ communities are one of the largest Maya peoples and preserve a prominent highland tradition.
Maya civilization : A constellation of ancient societies in Mesoamerica known for cities, writing, calendrical knowledge, and varied political systems. Ancient Maya civilization is a major part of Maya history, but it is not identical to present-day communities.
Maya maize cultivation : The cultivation of maize within Maya farming systems, diets, and cultural practices. Maize connects daily subsistence with longstanding Maya cultural and ceremonial meanings.
Guatemalan genocide : Mass killings and other crimes committed against Maya communities during Guatemala’s civil war, particularly in the early 1980s. These atrocities remain central to Maya demands for truth, justice, and recognition.
Qʼeqchiʼ people : A Maya people whose communities are concentrated in Guatemala and extend into Belize and Mexico. Their cross-border communities show how Maya identities extend beyond modern national boundaries.
Maya Classic period : The period from about 250 to 900 CE when many Maya cities flourished in the southern lowlands. Its cities and political centers shaped histories later remembered by Maya communities.
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