Tikal Research Paper

The physical and human geography of Tikal shows how it is a perfect candidate to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in Peten Province in present-day Guatemala, Tikal is a Mayan city ruins and is made up of many innovative structures made of limestone. This city is surrounded by forests and jungles, which resulted in the humid climate in Tikal. In addition to the damp climate, the forest also provided lots of nature, such as plants and trees, which were said to have been sacred to the Mayan people. To the west of Tikal, there is the Usumacinta River, and the Caribbean coast is to the east. One of Tikal's main uses was trade, and Tikal became so rich and populated. In the city's heart, the Great Plaza is used for religious ceremonies …show more content…
Along with these buildings, there were also five temples in Tikal, ranging from 138 feet to over 200 feet tall. To protect the center of their city and farming area from wars and intruders, the ancient Mayan people of Tikal surrounded these areas with 40 square miles of fortifications. The diverse geography and physical characteristics of Tikal help showcase the growth of the Mayan civilization and culture. Along with geography, Tikal’s history has helped historians understand more about the Mayan people and their culture. From the tenth century BCE to the fourth century BCE, Tikal was just a village with a small population, but around 300 and 100 BCE, it became a city full of life and movement. Tikal was an important city and the capital of one of the most powerful kingdoms, a thriving center of trade. It was an important city from 200 AD to 900 CE. The people of Tikal were very religious and praised their leaders very much. It was seen as a seat for the ruler and had around 30 rulers in 800 years. Tikal's original name was Yax Mutal, and it was named in honor of Yax Ehb Xook, who was the ruler in the first century …show more content…
In Temple 1, alternatively known as the Temple of Al Cacao, historians have found one of Tikal's past rulers, which shows how much Tikal people cherished and thought highly of their rulers. The vibrant city of Tikal shows how it is suitable to be a world heritage site through its geography and history. Tikal should be a World Heritage site because its geography and history help historians learn more about ancient Mayan culture and society. Tikal meets the criteria for a UNESCO World Heritage site iv “An outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history” because of its architecture that shows how the Mayan people protected and cherished their leaders and their land. In Tikal, there are fortifications that the Mayan people built to keep out intruders while battles and wars were occurring. The Mayan people of Tikal loved their leader so much that they built a temple for them to worship in the city. The religious temples in Tikal show that to the Mayan people religion was very important and they felt that the gods should have their temple to be worshiped

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