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The Mayan Civilization: Science, Astronomy, and Mysterious Collapse — Fexingo History

The Mayan Civilization: Science, Astronomy, and Mysterious Collapse — Fexingo History

By: Fexingo
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The Maya civilization thrived for over three millennia across the Yucatán Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras, building dazzling city-states like Tikal, Calakmul, and Palenque. Their achievements in mathematics, hieroglyphic writing, and astronomy rivaled any in the ancient world—they tracked Venus with precision, invented the concept of zero independently, and created the famous Long Count calendar that sparked apocalyptic predictions in the modern era. Yet by the ninth century CE, the Classic Maya heartland experienced a profound collapse: cities were abandoned, dynastic records ceased, and populations dwindled. In this ongoing conversation, Lucas and Luna examine the full arc of Maya history, from its Preclassic origins at El Mirador through the rise of divine kings like Pakal the Great and the fierce rivalry between Tikal and Calakmul. They delve into decipherment controversies, the recent lidar discoveries that revealed vast urban landscapes hidden beneath jungle, and the environmental, political, and social theories behind the collapse. The show also explores the enduring Maya presence today, challenging the myth of a vanished people. To understand the rise and fall of this brilliant civilization is to confront universal questions about sustainability, resilience, and the fragility of complex societies. #MayaCivilization #Tikal #Palenque #Calakmul #PakalTheGreat #YucatanPeninsula #Mesoamerica #LongCountCalendar #ClassicMaya #MayanCollapse #LidarArchaeology #MayanScript #AstronomyHistory #ZeroInvention #ElMirador #AncientHistory #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo© 2026 Fexingo. All rights reserved. Hourly Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Maya Cosmic Calendars and the Madrid Codex

    Maya Cosmic Calendars and the Madrid Codex
    Jun 29 2026
    Ever wonder how the Maya actually read the stars? In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the surviving Maya books—the codices—and focus on the Madrid Codex, the longest but most battered of the four. They trace its journey from a Maya scribe in the Late Postclassic to a Spanish colonial collection in the 19th century, then to its current home in Madrid. Lucas explains how its almanacs tracked the rainy season, agricultural cycles, and the 260-day tzolk'in ritual calendar with astonishing precision. He reveals the codex's detailed instructions for beekeeping, deer hunting, and carving Chaak masks from copal incense. The conversation also touches on the burning of most Maya books by Diego de Landa in 1562, and the irony that his own writings helped decipher the glyphs. No warfare, no kings—this episode is about the everyday cosmic knowledge that kept Maya civilisation running for centuries. #MadridCodex #MayaCodices #MayaCalendars #Tzolk'in #Haab #DiegoDeLanda #MayaAstronomy #MayaAgriculture #Beekeeping #Chaak #Copal #Almanac #PostclassicMaya #MayaReligion #MayaWriting #History #FexingoHistory #Mesoamerica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    9 mins
  • Maya Writing: The Story of the Chilam Balam Books

    Maya Writing: The Story of the Chilam Balam Books
    Jun 28 2026
    In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the Maya literary tradition through the Books of Chilam Balam, colonial-era manuscripts written in Yucatec Maya using Latin script. These books preserve centuries of Maya knowledge: prophecies, history, medicine, astronomy, and rituals. We discuss the destruction of Maya codices by Spanish friars, the survival of texts like the Chilam Balam of Chumayel, and the role of the jaguar priest or 'chilam' as a prophetic authority. We also examine how the books blend pre-Columbian calendars with Christian elements, and what they reveal about Maya resistance and adaptation under colonial rule. Specific books covered include those from Chumayel, Tizimín, and Maní. The episode also touches on the controversial 'prophecy of Katun 13 Ahau' and its interpretation. A must for anyone interested in Maya writing, colonial history, or indigenous resilience. #Maya #ChilamBalam #MayaWriting #ColonialMaya #YucatecMaya #Chumayel #Tizimin #Mani #MayaProphecy #MayaCalendar #SpanishColonization #DiegoDeLanda #MayaCodices #JaguarPriest #Katun13Ahau #MayaResistance #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    6 mins
  • Jasaw Chan K'awiil's Great King List: Tikal's Resurrection

    Jasaw Chan K'awiil's Great King List: Tikal's Resurrection
    Jun 28 2026
    In 682 AD, a new king rose in Tikal, a city crushed by Calakmul. Jasaw Chan K'awiil I didn't just rebuild — he rewrote history. This episode dives into his most audacious project: the Great King List, a monumental text that revised the past to serve the future. We explore how Maya rulers used dynastic history as political weaponry, carving long genealogies on stelae to claim divine legitimacy. How did Jasaw select which kings to include, who got left out, and what does that tell us about Tikal's recovery after the devastating Star War? Featuring specific readings from Stela 5 and Stela 16, plus the priestly order's role in controlling the narrative. No prior deep dive into Maya political propaganda exists in our catalog — until now. #JasawChanKawiil #Tikal #Calakmul #MayaKings #GreatKingList #Stela5 #Stela16 #dynasticpropaganda #Mayaepigraphy #StarWar #Kaanul #Mutal #ClassicMaya #Peten #Mesoamerica #History #FexingoHistory #MayaHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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    8 mins
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