Can you outline the role of military conquest in Maya political strategy?

Military conquest played a crucial role in Maya political strategy, primarily for territorial expansion, resource control, and asserting dominance.

The Maya civilisation, which thrived from 2000 BC to 1697 AD in Mesoamerica, was not a unified empire but a network of city-states. Each city-state had its own ruler, and these rulers often sought to expand their influence and control through military conquest. This was a key aspect of their political strategy, as it allowed them to gain control over more territory and resources, which in turn increased their power and prestige.

Military conquest was also used as a means of asserting dominance over other city-states. The Maya rulers would often wage war against their neighbours to demonstrate their military prowess and intimidate their rivals. Successful conquests not only brought tangible benefits such as additional territory and resources, but also boosted the ruler's reputation and standing among his peers. This could help to deter potential challengers and solidify the ruler's position of power.

Moreover, the spoils of war, including captives taken during military campaigns, were an important part of Maya political strategy. Captives could be used as slaves, sacrificed in religious ceremonies, or held for ransom, all of which could further enhance the victor's power and status. In some cases, conquered city-states were allowed to retain their local rulers, who would then become vassals of the conquering ruler. This allowed the conqueror to extend his influence and control without having to directly administer the conquered territories.

However, it's important to note that military conquest was not the only tool in the Maya political strategy. Diplomacy, alliances, and intermarriage between ruling families were also used to maintain and expand their influence. These non-military strategies could help to secure a ruler's position and prevent conflicts, but when they failed, military conquest was often the next step.

In conclusion, military conquest was a key component of Maya political strategy. It was used to expand territory, control resources, assert dominance, and enhance the ruler's power and prestige. However, it was not the only tool at their disposal, and was often used in conjunction with diplomacy and alliances.