Mesoamerica’s advanced civilization 
By Guillermo Méndez March 21, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Lecture
The Magnificent Maya: Part I
Guillermo Méndez
Wed, Mar 26, 3pm
Teatro Santa Ana
50 pesos

The Maya were the most advanced of all the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica. They inhabited southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and the western boundaries of Honduras and El Salvador. They built cities and paved roadways, although they used no wheeled vehicles of any kind. Their astronomers plotted the movements of the visible planets and stars using a mathematics that included zero, a rare accomplishment in world history. They were the only people of the New World to develop a complete written language that could express, in writing, anything spoken. They made books that combined illustrations and glyphs.

This lecture and slide show by retired professor of humanities Guillermo Méndez will focus on architecture and art, the Bonampak murals and Maya mathematics.