Just prior to the end of the School year, I did some typing work. A young women in third form had a report to finish. Since she also needed to study for exams, I offered to do some of the typing for her. As I thought the topic of the report was interesting, I asked if I could publish her report here, and she agreed.
The Indigenous Amerindians and the Europeans
Introduction
Columbus' contact with the New World brought death, destruction and change. The impact that Spanish contact had on the Maya was very rigorous since it brought irrevocable changes in their life. In this research I will be providing information of the Indigenous Amerindians and the Europeans. The Spanish contact on the Maya consequently brought changes to their customs which include music and dance; their food- the introduction of new animals and plants; their clothing- adding of accessories and also the introduction of a new language, Spanish. But, it brought changes particularly to the Maya religious belief which includes the introduction of Christianity and the destruction of their rituals. In essence, I will explore the effect of Spanish contact on the Maya customs which include music and dance, food, clothing and language and also their religious beliefs.
Clothing
Laces on the Maya huipilThe customs of the Maya were severely affected by the Spanish contact. The Maya clothing is one example of their customs that were affected. Their huipil is a beautiful Maya dress worn by the Maya women and were even much more beautified by their embroidery and their magnificent colours. According to Humphreys, Iyo and Tzalam (2007), “One of the enduring clothing from the past has been the huipil. The huipil is commonly worn by the Yukatek Maya as well as the Maya Mestizo. A Spanish influence to the dress is the lace-edged undergarment.” Since then some of the Maya dresses that Maya women wear today have laces. In the colonial era, narrations of the Spanish report that Maya weaving already existed before the arrival of Spanish. Hence, the very own colonial documents of the Maya pre- Spaniards' art contradict what some people say, that is that the Maya weavings are a product of colonialism. On the other side, the Spanish came to restrict the use of Maya dresses by the use of certain laws.
Food
The use of onion on the tamalesAnother custom of the Maya greatly affected by the Spanish contact was their food. The Spanish brought with them new animals such as pigs and plants such as onions. Most of the food that the Maya eat today is a combination of both the Maya and the Spanish. In African and Maya Civilizations (2007) it was claimed by Humphreys, Iyo and Tzalam, that before the Spanish contact the Maya already had corn, tomato, chocolate, turkey, deer and others. Then when the Spanish came they introduced the Maya to beef, pork, chicken capers, olives, rice, wheat, black pepper and vinegar. As end results from a combination of both Maya and Spanish food we get escabeche, enchiladas, garnachas, salbutes, tamales, tamalitos and much more. All these new animals and plants brought the destruction of crops and fear of the Maya which consequently lead to famine, colonization and death for the Maya.
Religious Beliefs
The use of the altarThe religious belief of the Maya was even more tremendously affected by the Spanish contact. When the Spanish came they brought with them new diseases, such as small pox, which brought the death of most Maya people and also destroyed complete Maya villages. Cal A. (2004) proved that, “ These diseases devastated their settlement and caused psychological blow because the Maya could not understand why their gods and priest could not cure the sickness”. But also the encomienda system, i.e. the division of slaves for labour and in return the Maya would be turned into Christians and would be given protection, that the Spanish made was also a reason for the Maya questioning their religion. If the Spanish hadn't separated them, maybe the Maya wouldn't have stopped practicing their rituals or doubted their religious beliefs. Also, a good example of Maya and European syncretism is the ritual of the Hanal Pixan or Day of the Dead. Since it is a ritual to remember the deceased and his/her favourite food is placed on the altar, where there would also be candles and essences. They would pray the rosary, too. The idea of feeding and remembering the dead is Maya. The altar and the rosary that is prayed is of Spanish influence and the food that is set on the table or altar for the dead soul is a mixture of both Maya and Spanish influence.
Conclusion
This research on the Indigenous Amerindians and the Europeans served a great purpose. Since it was about the death, destruction and change that the Spanish influence brought to the Maya. The impact brought changes to the Maya food, since they adapted to some of the Spanish fruits, meats and staples, that were incorporate. Just like with the clothing of the Maya which were changed. In the case of the religious beliefs, some of the Maya rituals were destroyed, while some were kept but changed. All of this impact was and is still felt today.
Bibliography
Humphreys, Iyo and Tzalam (2007). African and Maya Civilizations. 40,70,72 & 75
Cal A. (2004) Belize Maya Civilization. Center for Multi-cultural Studies and University of Belize Press University of Belize, Belmopan. 13
http://en-blog.hotelenplaya.com/2008/02/20/hanal-pixan-day-of-the-deads/. Date retrieved 23rd May 2008
http://www.centromayaxela.org/weaving.htm. Date retrieved 31st May 2008
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