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Postclassic Maya politics (1390s)

Type Event Region North America Time 1391–1400

In the 1390s, Postclassic Maya civilization on the Yucatán Peninsula centered on the Mayapan alliance, while highland Guatemalan city-states such as …

Timeline

  1. 1391–1395Mayapan · Yucatán PeninsulaMayapan, as the political center of the Yucatán Peninsula, was jointly ruled by hereditary lineages such as the Cocom and priestly groups. The council coordinated tribute distribution among vassal city-states and religious festivals, maintaining order within the alliance. Temples and palace districts within the city walls remained the core symbol of power.
  2. 1393–1397Guatemalan Highlands · GuatemalaThe K'iche' Kingdom, centered on Q'umarkaj, competed with the Kaqchikel and neighboring city-states over territory and trade routes. City-states adjusted spheres of influence through tribute, intermarriage, and intermittent warfare, forming a polycentric political landscape.
  3. 1396–1400Caribbean coastal trading ports · Caribbean SeaMaya coastal city-states maintained interregional trade in salt, cocoa, jade, and feathers through combined canoe and overland transport. The trade network linked the Yucatán, Belize, and Honduran coasts, providing an economic bond for inland city-states and to some extent easing political conflicts.

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