Tikal 

Tikal is one of the most popular and largest archaeological or historical sites and urban centers of the Maya Civilization during the pre-Columbian era. Tikal is situated in the historical place known as Petén Basin wherein now the northern Guatemala.  Located in the department of the El Petén, the archaeological site of the Tikal National Park of Guatemala and in the year 1979, this site was declared as one of the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  Tikal was the capital state of the Ancient Maya civilization and became most powerful domains of the ancient Maya. Although the monumental architecture at the place dates back more than the fourth century BC, the Tikal reached its highest point during the Classic Period between ca. 200 to 900 AD.

 During this period, the city conquered most of the Maya region economically, militarily and politically, as interacting with the regions allover the Mesoamerica like the great metropolis of the Teotihuacan in the isolated Valley of Mexico.  There is also several evidence which, shows that the Tikal was dominated by the Teotihuacan in the fourth century A.D.  After the end of the Late Classic Period, there was no new monuments were constructed at Tikal and also there are evidences that most of the major places were destroyed and burnt.   Because of these events were coupled and population decline, ending with the site’s desertion by the end of the tenth century. Tikal is the most popular and understood of any   large lowland Maya regions and cities, with a very long list of rulers, the discovery of the tombs of several of the rulers on this list and the study of their temples, palaces and monuments.  The name Tikal means “at the waterhole”.

Questionnaire:

• What is Tikal? Where it is located?
• Explain more about Tikal and its meaning.