The history of the Maya civilization does not follow a straightforward path. Maya cities and regions advanced, collapsed, and had varying levels of influence at different time periods. Maya society was rigidly divided between nobles, commoners, serfs, and slaves. The Maya were led by dynastic rulers, the population grew dramatically, art and culture flourished, and the elite classes became more entrenched. The noble class was complex and specialized. Noble status and the occupation in which a noble served was passed on through elite family lineages. Nobles served as rulers, government officials, tribute collectors, military leaders, high priests, local administrators, cacao plantation managers, and trade expedition leaders. Nobles were literate
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Evidence was provided for and against. They could collect evidence that proved that they were innocent, just as the other side could collect evidence to prove someone was guilty. If they were found to be guilty, they were punished. Punishments varied with the crime. Murder was rare because the punishment was so severe. Murderers “could be sacrificed or suffer death in the same manner as their victims, but families of the victims could demand money instead” (Foster, 2002, p.332). Sometimes the punishment was to have their entire face tattooed. That way everyone who saw you knew you had committed a crime. It was very embarrassing. That was the system and that's how things were supposed to work. But in reality, the nobles could afford to bring little gifts for the court. That might help them, it might not. The murder of a slave was not treated with the same importance as the murder of a farmer or a nobleman. But most courts tried to be fair to everyone. However, by the end of the Classic Period, the Maya kingdoms had begun to splinter and break off into smaller states. When the Spaniards arrived in the 1500s, the peak of the Maya civilization was long over and the remaining Maya states tended to be less centralized and more commercially
Evidence was provided for and against. They could collect evidence that proved that they were innocent, just as the other side could collect evidence to prove someone was guilty. If they were found to be guilty, they were punished. Punishments varied with the crime. Murder was rare because the punishment was so severe. Murderers “could be sacrificed or suffer death in the same manner as their victims, but families of the victims could demand money instead” (Foster, 2002, p.332). Sometimes the punishment was to have their entire face tattooed. That way everyone who saw you knew you had committed a crime. It was very embarrassing. That was the system and that's how things were supposed to work. But in reality, the nobles could afford to bring little gifts for the court. That might help them, it might not. The murder of a slave was not treated with the same importance as the murder of a farmer or a nobleman. But most courts tried to be fair to everyone. However, by the end of the Classic Period, the Maya kingdoms had begun to splinter and break off into smaller states. When the Spaniards arrived in the 1500s, the peak of the Maya civilization was long over and the remaining Maya states tended to be less centralized and more commercially