The Ancient Maya: An Advanced Civilisation Spanning a Vast Landscape - Essay Sample

Introduction

The modern-day population, also known as the Maya and their ancestors are present around the entire world. The native of the new world builds an old civilization that extended throughout Central America. This civilization was un-unified, characterized by several small states headed by Kings. Each developed into a city, and stronger ones could dominate countries that were weak and succeed in labor and tribute extraction. Archeologists discovered that the native cities could be expertly planned into grid structure to have temples, pyramids, and other essential architecture that present urban centers. Maya religion operated on many levels ranging from individual and public, emotional to spiritual. Their people's existence depends mainly on sacred beings; they believe in controlling everything in the universe. These gods possess both good and bad traits and would get manipulated due to their high dependence on the human for existence and welfare. Hence accepted rituals practice in Christianity, densely population of Christian cosmos, and belief in Blessed Virgin Mary's power help in the conversion of native people to Christianity.

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Rituals performed by a native of the new world had meaning and were familiar to them, which aided their conversion to Christianity. The Maya practice superstition, which involved dealing with their god into public and sacred places through performing rituals. The rituals they perform did not present a threat to Christianity, or the political or social order rested by Christianity (Farriss 289). For instance, many domestic rituals independently, such as during childbirth, deaths, and illness, are still activities carried in the modern world by Christians. Besides, superstition incorporated practice and belief that confined individuals and kinfolk into the forest or household that could not easily be detected. Hence, it would be readily accepted into Christianity due to domestic rites performed, and they presented themselves to a humble spirit in an indigenous cosmology way that was less dangerous. Besides, Christian could dominate towns leaving individuals associated in sacred places. Therefore the way the native of the new world performed and practice superstition help in converting them into Christianity as the practices are also allowed in Christianity.The dense population of Christian also aided the conversion of the native of a new world to Christianity. Most individuals who practiced Spanish culture know as Christian cosmos were many as the Maya culture bearers. Hence it influenced the missionary to spread Christianity as the reformist of the 16th Century known as Erasmian Humanism purged their religion of incorporations to Christianity form of worship. Hence this was a conversion model that involves a shift in faith and allowed Christians and Maya religion to share their beliefs as a way of controlling individual welfare and the environment. Thus Christian's saints distributed all over the Atlantic collected gods of Maya community. Every neighborhood, region, and town in Spain had at least one patron saint, and the practices finished through the guidance of spirit in the whole Christian nation. Therefore, the large number of Christian believers help in driving conversion f native of the new world into Christianity.

Finally, acknowledging the power of Mary also helped in the conversion of the native new world into Christianity. Those who engaged in Mexican conquest believe that the power of Mary would provide comfort and energy during the conquest period. For instance, the Spanish sailor who obtained native cacique recovered and headed the native troops in occasional struggle and endured to become victorious (Hall 84). The good characters from this sailor are according to the Blessed Virgin Mary devotion. The victory and painted image of the Virgin Mary in the sailor's chest made the indigenous leaders abandon and threw away their sacred objects they always believe and worship. Due to the sailor scenario, thousands of individuals converted to Christianity and got baptized. Besides, they urged missionaries to convey Christian teachings in their language. Belief in the power of Blessed Virgin Mary also helps in the conversion of the native of the modern world into Christianity.

Overall, ritual accepted in Christianity, densely population of Christians and acknowledging the power of virgin marry in the war aided conversion of the native population to Christianity. Believing in Christianity during war healed the sailor and became victorious during the conquest of Mexico.

Works Cited

Farriss, Nancy Marguerite. Maya society under colonial rule: The collective enterprise of survival. Princeton University Press, 1984. https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691101583/maya-society-under-colonial-rule

Hall, Linda B. Mary, mother and warrior: the Virgin in Spain and the Americas. University of Texas Press, 2004. https://books.google.co.ke/books/about/Mary_Mother_and_Warrior.html?id=ihujfu7oK7MC&redir_esc=y