Work
Women
of the Mayan Empire were of the basic model of the homemaker you would
expect from early Mesoamerican societies, with some minor exceptions.
The Mayan culture based part of its religion on female gods and thus
they were more likely to honor and revere their women. In the early ages
of the reign of the Mayas, there were even instances of women who took
control of the areas they lived in and became early ruling queens. One
such instant was that of Lady K’awil, who took control of her region of
Tonina after two male leaders failed in their reigns and were forcibly
removed to make way for Lady K’awil. The region also took on
matrilineal, rule passed down through the female line, ruling as a
result of the success and prosperity that she brought to her city and
people. This situation and others were depicted in the art that was held
within the tombs of the women, Lady K’awil herself had a painting of
her in her throne and servants cowered at her feet. Most women, though,
did not have nearly the experience especially as the Mayan Empire grew
into a state where the men took control and limited the amount of work
that women were allowed to do in their society.
As for the men,
they worked for the government, etc ... to defend their selves and their
empire. The Spanish Colonization affected a little on their levels of
work, they became more strengthed and powerful.
