New light on the dark age: a summary of major themes

Freidel, David A.

essay

New light on the dark age: a summary of major themes

lowland maya postclassic • Austin • Published In 1985 • Pages: 283-309

By: Freidel, David A..

Abstract
In this article Freidel presents a thematic summary of the Maya Postclassic period based on a collection of papers appearing in the NY54 Postclassic Maya file as eHRAF documents nos. 7-29 passim. These papers are discussed from the standpoint of three major themes that predominant throughout the collection, namely: (1) the continuity and disjunction between indigenous development on the Yucatan peninsula during the Classic era and the development following the collapse of this period in the south; (2) the role of external groups in the developments on the peninsula during the Postclassic; and (3) the trend toward viewing the peninsula during the Postclassic period as a heterogeneous mosaic of sociocultural organizations rather than as a relatively homogeneous territorial block undergoing sequential cultural expression (p. 285). These three major themes address the essential cultural historical framework of the Maya Postclassic.

Reviews and critiques

History and culture change

Cultural participation

HRAF PubDate

2001

Region