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Maya Political Systems. Classical Maya Period 300-900 AD. Nobles, termed ahau , are attested in the hieroglyphic inscriptions. Also na ahau “noble lady” are attested. Term ch’ul ahau “holy lord”refers to the paramount leader. Term appears on inscriptions after the 4 th century AD.
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Classical Maya Period 300-900 AD • Nobles, termed ahau, are attested in the hieroglyphic inscriptions. Also naahau“noble lady” are attested. • Term ch’ulahau“holy lord”refers to the paramount leader. Term appears on inscriptions after the 4th century AD. • Lesser centers were administered by a cahal(prn. sahal). • Some kings were yahau“vassals” of another.
The king and his family were a caste, and so interacted with their counterparts of equal rank elsewhere.
Archaeologists are undecided whether Maya polities were very complex chiefdoms, or primitive states. • They are also undecided as to whether or not Maya polities were small and many, or few and large.
Chacte or OchkinKaloomte “Lord of the West”: ruler of realm larger than a single city. Comes into use after the 4th century AD