THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION L35 



Period of the League of Mai a.p \\ 



980 A.I), to 1200 A.I). 

 This period is characterized by a noteworthy re- 

 vival of architecture occurring in northern Yucatan. 

 According to the chronicles the land of Chakanputun 

 was abandoned by the tribe of Mayas known as the 

 It /.as and Chichen Itza was re-established. About 

 the same time Uxmal and Mayapan were also founded 

 and a League between these three principal cities was 

 instituted. Many other cities, such as Kabah, Labna, 

 Sayil, and Izainal also seem to have flourished at this 

 time but we have no traditions of any except Izamal. 

 The architectural styles of -decoration during this period 

 are more formal than those of earlier times. The mask 

 panel, a face reduced to a rectangular area and built 

 up mosaic-like out of separately carved blocks, is the 

 most important motive but there is also a great use of 

 geometric figures such as fret meanders, banded 

 columns, and imitation diagonal lattice work. At Ux- 

 mal and Chichen Itza are found highly modified and 

 scarcely recognizable examples of profile mask panels 

 Buch as occur in realistic forms in earlier cities. 

 Several of the large communal buildings show different 

 stages of growth. Several buildings at Uxmal and 

 ( Ihichen Itza are dated by inscripl ions. 



Period of Mexican Influence 

 1200 A. D. to 1450 A.D. 

 This period lies between the first serious outbreak 

 of civil war under the league of the three cities and 

 the final destruction of Mayapan about a hundred 

 years before the Spaniard- settled at Merida. The civil 

 war was begun by a warrior called Hunac Ceel and 

 ( Ihichen Itza was Loser. This chief seems to have called 



