One noble family controlled each city.  When the ruling noble died, his job passed to his son.  No one else got a shot at it. The noble families’ right to rule originated with the Hero Twins. Each noble family was supposedly a direct descendant of one of the Hero Twins. That gave them the justification they needed to keep their job. They were directly related to the gods.

The ruling noble did not do his job alone. Part of his job was to select a council of elders and warriors to help him rule.  Other people were additionally selected to help run the government. Some people were chosen to enforce laws. Others were chosen to act as judges. So the Mayas ruled themselves via a system of city-states.

Like the ancient Greeks, the Maya city-states were both independent and intertwined. The Maya people all spoke the same language. They used the same system of counting. They worshiped the same gods. They told the same myths. They had the same laws. They wore the same style clothing. They thought of themselves as one people. 

Unlike the ancient Greeks, Maya cities were interconnected with marvelous roads. Archaeologists believe that once, long ago, there were hundreds of Maya cities. Each Maya city had a palace, some temples, some pyramids, a central marketplace, and of course, a ball court. 

The Mayas built an empire. The Maya civilization lasted for 1500 years. No one knows why this empire failed. It remains a mystery. 

Maya Justice - Crimes, Courts, Punishment

Cities, Palaces, Pyramids, Temples, Ball Courts

Maya Stelas

Nobles & Fashion

The Hero Twins - Short Version 

What happened to the Maya civilization?

Mayas for Kids