There are more than 6 million modern Maya. Most live in rural areas of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize—places where their ancestors lived.
Their culture mixes up things from pre-Columbian Indian, European, and modern times. (Pre-Columbian means “before Columbus.”)
Today, the Maya are having a hard time. A civil war in Guatemala killed thousands of highland Indians. Tens of thousands fled into Mexico. The Maya are like many other people in Mexico. They suffer because there are too many people, not enough jobs, and rebellions. In many places, they have had to give up their native language and dress. Only in rural areas can they keep their traditions. In Guatemala, Mayan farmers have been shoved into mountain areas with poor land. Workers are paid very low wages.
Will the Maya survive these troubles? We don’t know yet.
