Kaminaljuyu

(noun)

The ruling city-state of the Middle Preclassic era. Evidence of stone monuments and complex canals illustrate the power this early capital retained for centuries.

Related Terms

Examples of Kaminaljuyu in the following topics:

  • The Preclassic Period of the Maya

    • However, it was likely ruled by the first true Mayan city-state, Kaminaljuyu.
    • Lying within modern-day Guatemala City on the shores of Lake Miraflores, Kaminaljuyu developed a powerful government structure that organized massive irrigation campaigns and built numerous intricately carved stone monuments to its rulers.
    • These images indicate the Kaminaljuyu polity engaged in active warfare and dominated the Guatemalan highlands for centuries.
    • The Late Preclassic also saw the rise of two powerful states that rival later Classic Mayan city-states for scale and monumental architecture—Kaminaljuyu in the highlands and El Mirador in the lowlands.
    • The Preclassic collapse refers to the systematic decline and abandoning of the major Preclassic cities, such as Kaminaljuyu and El Mirador around 100 CE.