DOCUMENT RESUME SO 032 441 ED 449 076 AUTHOR Karem, Kenny Search for Tikal: Lost City of the Maya. Fulbright-Hays TITLE Summer Seminars Abroad Program, 2000 (Mexico and Guatemala). Center for International Education (ED), Washington, DC. SPONS AGENCY PUB DATE 2000-00-00 NOTE 68p. Classroom Learner (051) PUB TYPE Creative Works (030) Guides MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Archaeology; *Curriculum Development; Foreign Countries; DESCRIPTORS *Historic Sites; Intermediate Grades; *Maya (People); Reading Motivation; Social Studies; Student Motivation Central America; Fulbright Hays Seminars Abroad Program; IDENTIFIERS Guatemala; *Historical Fiction; *Mayan Civilization; Spanish History ABSTRACT This curriculum unit takes the form of historical fiction, an original story for middle school students which revolves around the 16th-century Spanish conquest of Guatemala and the Mayan people. Incorporated into the story are many of the Mayan sites, ruins, geography, culture, legends, historical characters, and cities. The climax is set at the world heritage archaeological national park, Tikal. Includes only 5 of the unit's 11 total chapters. (BT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Fulbright Seminar Fellowship Project Mexico & Guatemala, 2000 by Kenny Karem Search for Tikal: Lost City of the Maya manuscript, story for For my Fulbright Seminar education project, I completed an historical fiction, a story of middle school students, ages 9-14. It revolves around the 16th Century Spanish conquest geography, Guatemala and the Mayan people. I incorporated many of the Mayan sites, ruins, the world culture, legends, historical characters and cities into the story with the climax set at heritage archaeological national park, Tikal. This story is intended to inspire young readers to appreciate the marvels of the Mayan of today in culture and instill a desire to learn more and visit the many living Mayan cultures religion are still Central America. Many of the customs, crafts, agricultural practices, clothing and practiced there today. I chose this project because there is very little historical fiction or story available which a teacher or student can utilize. I have found that as a middle school teacher, my North American students are fascinated by any Native American culture. It is a shame that in our and other cultures, are so school systems, the magnificent Mayans, as well as the Incas and Aztecs teach us all. underutilized. All of their stories, past and present, have many lessons to have completed I am including here only 5 chapters out of the total of eleven chapters. I included here. Since the entire project, including a glossary and chapter summary which are not idea at this moment when this manuscript has just been sent to an editor, (August, 2000), I have no it will be published or who will publish it. of the manuscript, If an educator or student would like to have a copy of the complete photocopying and please contact me and I will try to make you a copy. I will only charge you a mailing costs. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND CENTER (ERIC) DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS This document has been reproduced as Kenny Karem BEEN GRANTED BY received from the person or organization I/originating it. adt. ffotire.44, 126 Crescent Avenue Minor changes have been made to Louisville, KY 40206 improve reproduction quality. (502) 895-6073 Points of view or opinions stated in this TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES document do not necessarily represent kenny.karem @mciworld.com INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) official OERI position or policy. 1 BEST COPY AVAILABLE SEARCH FOR TIKAL: LOST CITY OF THE MAYA by Kenny Karem 126 Crescent Ave Louisville, KY 40206 (502)895-6073 3 if 1 ' ! I S1 SEARCH FOR TIKAL: ! LOST CITY OF THE MAYA 4 Table of Contents Preface p. Ritual at the Ruins of Utatln Chapter 1 1 Chapter 2 Marvels of the Marketplace p. 17 at Chichicastenango p. 32 Chapter 3 The Perilous Prophecy p. 43 Chapter 4 The Urgent Assembly p. 53 Chapter 5 The Arrival of Alvarado p. 72 Chapter 6 The Raging River Chixoy p. 85 Chapter 7 The Shaking Earth of Yaxcl2illn Chapter 8 Penetrating the Jungle Maze p. 111 Chapter 9 The Cunning Conquistador Cortes p. 126 Chapter 10 The Search for Tikal p. 151 p. 164 Chapter 11 The Mystery of the Serpent House p. 186 Epilogue p. 189 Glossary Preface cities, ruins, geographical All aspects of the Mayan culture described in this story sites, flora and fauna; gods, foods, clothing items, jewelry, architectural features, household items and books -- can be found in Guatemala and other Central American countries today. Most of the characters are fictional, but some are authentic historical figures. It is confusing this is the to read names of characters both in common English and in Mayan dialects, but books, murals, stelas and ceramics. All way they have been translated from Mayan glyphs in fictional and non-fictional characters as well as many other Mayan cultural terms are defined m the glossary. The story takes place in 1524 A.D. during the initial Spanish invasion of the Mayan kingdoms in Mexico, Guatemala and other Central America countries by the expeditions of Pedro de Alvarado and Hernan Cortes. In some cases, certain historical incidents, fsicts, natural history or customs have been slightly altered or moved in location to improve the dramatic qualities of the story. These are described in the epilogue, glossary and map at the end of the story. . *. Chapter 1 Ritual at the Ruins of Utat1L Illuminated by the flickering fire, a dispassionate face carved in a stone slab stared outward as if expecting an offering. Wispy sweet-smelling smoke curled snaked slowly upward around the stela like a silver serpent. Then it disappeared into the darkness of the night. With carefully selected movements and words, an old man softly uttered his plea as he bent over and added another handful of copal incense to the smoldering ashes in the gold platter. Then he solemnly began his prayer. It.zamna, God of the heavens, who gives us our life and ourfoo4 we honor and praiseyou here at Cita/lain, our sacred place, with these gifts of quettal feathers and jade. The temples of Utatlari had been holy places where gods and humans met at the portals -- gateways to the different sides of the world -- and where destinies were determined. Now it must happen again. Coati admired the smooth deep green of the skillfully-crafted jade necklace and the intricacy of the exquisite plumes of the rare quetzal bird. Surely these worthy gifts would please the gods. He added more wood to the fire inside the large stone urn which was balanced upon the back of an immense carved tortoise. In its deliberate measured gait, the tortoise symbolically carried the Mayan world on its back, maintaining order and the balance of life. In this critical moment, Coal believed that he must appease the gods to assure a continuing balance in the Mayan world. Goad was known throughout the Mayan realm, particularly in his Quiche Mayan band, as one of the most powerful priests, a shaman whose skills were widely respected and feared. His knowledge of appropriate religious practices, his dignified conduct of rituals and his rumored p. 1 Standing on an ornamental skUll from which symbols of maize protrude, a priest holds a jade figurine of the god ltzam Na. This is a detail from the panel of the foliated cross at Palenque. (After A. P. Maudslay) BESTCOPYAVAILABLE mystical powers combined to earn him a commanding reputation. But as he stood before the main temple doorway at Utadaden amidst the ruins of this once-revered but now abandoned religious ceremonial site, he wondered if he could summon the magical power that many people believed he possessed -- the ability to communicate with the gods. Looking about the empty ceremonial square, Coatl sensed the presence of the gods and his ancestral spirits. Would they respond to this traditional summons? He raise the large conch shell to his mouth and blew forcefully. A loud wail passed through the forest canopy. He bowed wearily towards a stela, one of the old tree stones, carved by some unknown skilled sculptor a thousand years ago. This mammoth slab featured Itzamna, an ancestral warrior king in full-length feathered headdress. He was surrounded by glyphs, the mysterious symbol-writing which described this particular lord's history. There were many old trees stones at Utatlan and Coad was one of the few who could read their glyphs. Coad waved a quetzal feather at the stone figure and raised his voice slightly. I must summon more energy for this chant, he thought. It.camna', Lord of the nights and days, give us protection from the bearded white invaders who come to destroy our wry of Isle, and the balance in our universe, and to dishonoryour temples. As he gazed at the stern visage of Itzamna, he thought that surely the bearded white invaders must be the enemies of the gods too. Had they not already desecrated the great Aztec temples to the north? His calling of the gods was proper. Then the doubts flooded into his mind. Why hadn't the gods helped the Aztecs against the foreign invaders? He forced these sacrilegious doubts from his mind and examined the constellations in the sky. His priestly colleagues, the stargazers, had selected a most favorable night for his pleas. He felt tired, though, and knew that he must extract more energy from his aged body to properly complete the ritual. p. 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Hoping to induce a vision, Coatl stuffed shredded tobacco into his clay pipe and lit it. As he inhaled the sweet smoke, he relaxed. Puffs of smoke drifted upward as he recalled how his restricting trap of the body. ancestors relied on tobacco to release the mind from the Hidden behind a nearby tree stone, two youths--crouched,observing the labored had crept out of their home in movements of the old shaman. Zotil and Chela, brother and sister, the city of Chichicastenango while their parents slept and had ventured into the mountains to Utatla'n had once been a power Ctat Jan. There had always been stories that the abandoned ruins of place where priests had consulted the gods. Zotil and Chela had accepted a large wager from some friends to dare witness a secret mysterious night ritual. Like everyone else, they were farnili2r with the impressive reputation of Coatl as a powerful medicine man who reputedly conducted strange rituals alone at titatlaii. They had been tipped by their friends that he would be here tonight. Besides winning an easy wager, it seemed like an exciting worthwhile risk. But this feeble old man looked helpless and weary, the opposite of someone who supposedly talked with the gods. Zotil was a tall, slender young man with bronze skin and dark brown eyes, appearing much older than his nineteen years. His agile body,quick movements and alert gaze suggested an ocelot, a nocturnal cat which prowled the forest. His sister, Chela, who was two years younger, was much shorter but of sturdy build. She wore her long straight black hair in the customary single braid. Her lively brown eyes and calm, pleasant demeanor complimented her mischievous personality. Thus far, they had been disappointed with a rather routine, even dull, religious ritual. What reputation was based on some fabled was so impressive about this small, frail old priest? Perhaps his accomplishments of his youth. Dressed in a simple white robe decorated only by a plain, feathered around green serpent and wearing a jade pendant, he seemed like any ordinary old man wandering the streets of Chichicastenango. Even the few temples they could notice by moonlight and the glow of the fire were nothing more than moss-covered, vine-entangled rubble. It did not appear to be a. place of power or even mystery. Observing the weary movements of the old man, Zotil quipped sarcastically, "I think he has inhaled too much copal incense. Look how he staggers." p. 3 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 110