Classical Maya Period 300-900 ADNobles, 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