The development of society. The Maya state in the Pre-Classic period (1800 BC – 200 AD)

Abstract

The idea of a mutual relationship between an individual and the society to which this individual belongs emerged relatively early in the history of human thought. To fully understand how Maya statehood formed during the Pre-Classic period it is worth analysing sociological and anthropological theories referring to the concept of society. This is why the author tries to introduce the reader to the crucial notions and theories associated with the appearance of the first proto-state centres in the first part of my paper. The second part addresses the development and evolution of social and political structures in the Maya state directly. For a better perspective, the author has also decided to briefly present the fully developed social structure which is characteristic of the late Pre-Classic period and the classic Maya culture, which is a direct descendant of the earlier structures.