Ancient Civilizations of the Americas Lecture 14

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Ancient Civilizations of the Americas Lecture
14

• The Mayan Cities of the Puuc Hills

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• The Puuc hills are some of the few hills of the
  north Yucatan plain. This region has
  exceptionally rich soil but no standing or
  flowing sources of water

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• Rainfall is highly variable, and the region has a
  long dry season (Nov. April).
• Populations flowed into the region after 700 AD.
• Water scarcity was solved by the chultun, a Mayan
  cistern, which concentrated water that fell
  during the rainy season.

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• Puuc centers fluoresced between 750-900 AD, the
  same period during which the Classic Mayan
  centers to the south were collapsing.
• Survey around the centers has revealed a
  six-tiered settlement hierarchy. Population
  densities were 290 persons per sq. km.

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Uxmal

• Few hieroglyphic texts. Ethnohistorical sources
  have the dynasty founded by Ah Kuy Tok Tutil Xiu.
  The Xiu dynasty was to become dominant in
  northern Yucatan for centuries.
• One of his successors was Lord Chak, who bore the
  title kul ajaw. Between 900-950 AD the various
  centers of the region came under the domination
  of Uxmal, under Lord Chak.

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• Most building at Uxmal were constructed under
  Lord Chak.
• The population collapsed precipitously between AD
  950 and 1000.