Summary

Chak Tok Ich’aak’s last day on earth was January 14, 387 AD. He was the King of Mutal, the largest state in the Maya civilization. He ascended to the throne in 360 AD when Maya was comprised of only 60 small statelets scattered far and wide. During his reign, Chak Tok brought diplomatic stature and commercial clout to the kingdom. He also reached out to other cultures in Mesoamerica to establish trade agreements. But an army from Teotihuacan led by Siyaj K’ak’ was on the march and had taken control of most of Central Mexico and was looking for new conquests. Chak Tok “passed on to a better place” when the enemy’s knife was driven into his heart. His death brought chaos to Mesoamerica. Once taken over by Teotihuacan, the Mutal culture advanced and was elevated in status. The collapse of...