Family Member Roles

The Mayan society was organized on the basis of a social stratification, at the head of which was the nobility, almenehoob. This privileged group had the power and authority to hold political posts and religious. The supreme ruler of the province was, Halach Uinik (or Halach Wíinik) who lived in absolute power on matters earthly and spiritual, and it was while Batab or local boss. The group of priests, known generically ahkincob, I had the same status as the heads or Bataboob. The supreme priest received Ahuacán name, which means "Mr snake." The merchants professionals (Ppolom) on the social ladder. They were members of the nobility, not only because of their descent from mariners putunes conquerors of this land, but because they have their hands in this important economic activity. Although, in general, the whole land was communally owned and belonged to the people, the nobles had greater access to the cream of the crop, not owned or worked: getting todocon work of farmers. Under this complicated stratum which was the nobility, it was the people, the common people call Yalba Uinikoob ( "little men"), Chemal Uinicoob, Memba Uinicoob or Pizilcan, all commoners. The "common people" was the most numerous and included farmers, fishermen, lumberjacks, masons, artisans, weavers, porters, etc. The village was farming corn and produce food for themselves and for the noble class. It was the cutting, loading, and farmed make stones that shape the grand buildings, which built roads and temples, which decorated their walls with paintings and mosaics. Below the town was on the social ladder: the slaves. They were, for the most part, people caught in war or enslaved by any crime. It was born a slave or become such to be sold on the business or be an orphan.

By Diana Palacios Chacón