Itza Maya Research Paper

Words: 1077
Pages: 5

Due to other areas needing suppressed by other Maya uprisings, the Governor of Yucatán decided his best use of troops and resources would be better spent elsewhere. The Itza Maya continued their independence harassed for the most part through the 17th century. The Itza Maya of the Petén Basin were the last of the significant unconquered Maya kingdoms.[59] The Itza Maya still had significant population that existed in the Petén Basin with most of them living around the central lakes and along the rivers.
The Maya in the Petén were not politically unified as a whole single kingdom. Instead, they were divided into a number of different complex alliances and old rival enmities that were intermixed with other Maya groups in the area. The
…show more content…
Then on March 13, 1697, with everything ready and artillery supporting this large force, they defeated the Itza Maya and seized their capital of Tayasal. The Maya conquest had finally ended with the capture of Tayasal, the island capital of the Itza kingdom.
The Spanish didn't stop at conquering the city, they smashed all the idols of false gods and burned all the Itza Maya's books that 'contained lies of the devil.' The conquistadors reported that there were so many idols within the city that it took them nearly all day to smash them all.
Bishop Landa, whom was with the Conquistadors, described the Maya's books as being large and made with a highly decorated leaf that was doubled in folds which were enclosed between two boards. The Maya wrote on both sides in the columns that were corresponding to the book folds. The paper they used to make their books was made from the roots of a tree, which they put a white varnish on to give a nice surface to write
…show more content…
The writers taught them and made them understand their meanings. In these books, these writers wrote about their antiquities, myths and of their sciences.
The Spaniards found a great number of these books among the Maya, they were a common item, However, the Spanish believed that these books contained nothing but heretic superstitions and falsities from the devil, so to they burned them all.[91]
The Pyramid of Kukulcan seen from the Temple of the Warriors at Chichen-Itza.[75]

Following the Spanish Conquest of Mesoamerica, the Vice-royalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España), also known as "New Spain," was established. New Spain was a vice-royalty of the crown of Castile, of the Spanish empire, which comprised of territories in the north overseas 'Septentrion' (North America and Philippines).
Within this Septentrion included most of the United States west of the Mississippi River, including the lower gulf coast and all of Florida. Additionally, New Spain included the Caribbean, Mexico and all of Central America excluding