Forgotten Ancient Civilizations of the World - By: prolificrandy

We call ourselves civilized though we have been indulging in uncivilized acts. Does being civilized come to a society over a period of time? Or was it possible that people living aeons ago could have been civilized. Are we confusing modernization with civilization? We imagine that being technologically advanced entitles us to call ourselves civilized. How did people live, say 4,000 years ago? Isn’t it difficult to perceive? We believed that people living 1,000 years ago could have been barbaric though there are no historical proofs to back such a notion. But thinking and imagining are our birthrights and we can just go on with this subterfuge.

Let us just stop for a moment and think without any bias. It may be true that people who existed in pre-historic times could have lived better lives than us. It may be difficult to digest, however it could actually be true. There was a civilization that existed in that era that was advanced enough to format a calendar that could stretch up to the next year i.e. 2012. Seems pretty far-fetched doesn’t it?

Let us attempt to unravel the mysterious lives of the Mayans who inhabited parts of Central America namely, Guatemala, Belize and Southern Mexico. There existed a city called Tikal which was deep in the jungles of El Petén. These jungles were actually rain forests with trees reaching 30 meters above the ground. This was an area blessed with copious rainfall, though seasonal. The ingenious Mayans devised ways and means to conserve this water by building reservoirs fed by culverts all working on gravity. As they were masters in agriculture, availability of water round the year was of great importance. The harvests were bountiful and there was always enough and more which prompted them to become great traders as well. Tikal became a focal point and a bustling trade center. Due importance was also given to governance and the political system was well entrenched with tax structures that ensured the coffers were always full.

The State believed In the welfare of its people and allocation of funds were left to experts, with the result that the benefits percolated to the lowest strata of society.

The Mayans were staunch theists and to establish this firmly they built grand Temples, some of which could put a modern day skyscraper to shame. There were several fabulous palaces built for the rulers, some serving as resorts where they used to holiday with many of their wives. The architectural beauty and stature of these edifices stand as testimonials to the expertise developed by this ancient civilization. The city had its due share of carved inscriptions and polychrome ceramics that spelled class.

With a population exceeding 100,000, a good percentage would enroll voluntarily to protect the Sovereignty of the nation. The Mayan army was the most disciplined and probably best looked-after, as there was a system where after every major conquest the proceeds were distributed to every single soldier. The reign of the local Kings flourished for quite a long period and due to the abundance, importance was given to the study of various sciences including astronomy and astrology. They devised a system of astrological readings that had incredible accuracy and is being followed to this day.

A seasoned Mayan astrologer was able to predict major events and impending war. A system of calculations helped in predicting rainfall for the current season. After the civilization had reached its peak, there was a gradual downfall, the exact reason for which is not really known. The well maintained waterways were left unattended and the system collapsed leading to fall in agricultural activities. Today the ruins remain telling us a tale of their grand past. Regular shows on TV are aired by many service providers like Dish Network that give graphic accounts which are a treat to watch.

About the Author

Randy Collins is a freelance writer who loves to watch reality-based shows and history channel on his TV powered by http://www.dishtvoffer.com">Dish TV.

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