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 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 Ochkin Kaloomte “Lord of the West”: ruler of
realm larger than a single city. Comes into use after the 4th
century AD
Post-Classic Maya Polities