Long Count

Definition

The Long Count is a non-repeating base-20 calendar system used by the Maya civilization to track time over extended periods, allowing them to record historical dates and events with precision. This system is significant for understanding the Maya's approach to timekeeping, as it combines various units of time into a single format that reflects their cosmological and historical perspectives.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Long Count calendar begins on a mythological date equivalent to August 11, 3114 BCE in the Gregorian calendar, which is significant in Maya cosmology.
2. The Long Count consists of five units: baktun (144,000 days), katun (7,200 days), tun (360 days), uinal (20 days), and k'in (1 day), allowing for precise long-term date recording.
3. Maya inscriptions often included Long Count dates to mark significant events, such as royal births, deaths, and monumental constructions.
4. The system allowed the Maya to synchronize their ritual calendars (Tzolk'in and Haab') with historical events and longer cycles of time.
5. The end of a baktun cycle (every 394 years) was marked by notable ceremonies and beliefs about renewal or transformation in Maya culture.

Review Questions

• How does the Long Count system compare to other Maya calendars like Tzolk'in and Haab', and what purpose does it serve?
  • The Long Count system differs from the Tzolk'in and Haab' calendars in that it tracks longer spans of time rather than focusing on cycles of days for rituals or agricultural seasons. While Tzolk'in is a 260-day ritual calendar and Haab' is a 365-day solar calendar, the Long Count allows for historical recording across centuries. It serves the purpose of documenting significant events in Maya history while providing context for how these events relate to their cyclical calendars.
• Discuss the importance of the Long Count in Maya cosmology and how it reflects their understanding of time.
  • The Long Count is deeply intertwined with Maya cosmology, as it represents their belief in cyclical time and cosmic renewal. By structuring time into extensive units that can reflect both history and mythology, the Long Count illustrates the Maya's understanding of their place in the universe. Events recorded within this system were seen as part of a grand narrative that emphasized continuity, legacy, and the significance of celestial movements.
• Evaluate the role of the Long Count in preserving Maya history and how it has impacted modern understanding of their civilization.
  • The Long Count plays a crucial role in preserving Maya history as it provides a framework for dating historical events and linking them to archaeological findings. This precision has allowed researchers to construct timelines that illustrate the rise and fall of city-states, important cultural shifts, and socio-political developments. Understanding the Long Count has significantly impacted modern interpretations of Maya civilization, revealing complexities in their society that underscore their achievements in astronomy, mathematics, and governance.

Related terms

Tzolk'in: A 260-day ritual calendar used by the Maya, consisting of 20 periods of 13 days, often associated with agricultural and ceremonial cycles.

Haab': A 365-day solar calendar used by the Maya, divided into 18 months of 20 days each, plus a short month of 5 days, reflecting their agricultural seasons.

Maya Hieroglyphs: The writing system employed by the Maya civilization, consisting of logograms and syllabic symbols that were used to record their history, rituals, and calendar systems.