The Maya - Lords of the Jungle (3/21)

The Maya - Lords of the Jungle (3/21)

Dieter Moor tells the fascinating story of the Maya. He visits the Mayan monuments of Tikal (Guatemala) and Copan (Honduras), the Mexican sites in Chichen Itza and Palenque as well as the trading centre of the Zapotecs on Monte Alban. The Maya lived in the south and south-east of Mexico (Yucatan) and also in parts of Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and El Salvador. They developed a flourishing civilisation that lasted six times as long as the Roman Empire, and to this day their achievements in mathematics, astronomy and architecture continue to amaze both scientists and the general public. Mayan civilisation experienced its heyday between 250 and 900 C.E. with the emergence of a hereditary monarchy. It was under the rule of the nobility that their famous stepped pyramids, temples and palaces were built. The rulers of the small states, which often engaged in hostilities, regarded themselves as the centre of the cosmos and as mediators between the people and the gods. To this day it is not clear why the civilisation of the Mayas declined - a fact which has provided fertile ground for the creation of legends. In the past 20 years, however, scientific research has succeeded in separating fact from fantasy...

The imagery of this film was shot with the utmost care and precision on 35mm film and comes from the raw footage of the series "Treasures of the World - Heritage of Mankind" which is devoted entirely to the Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO.