A Comparison of Classic Maya and Shang Scribes

Using recently published information, this paper compares the scribes of Classic Maya and Shang China societies in terms of social status, titles and function, training, outfit and equipment, plying their trade, and religion and festival. The too are found to be similar in terms of originating front the shamanic class and functions in divination and astrology, calendars and the agricultural cycle, government records and the library, public ceremonies and construction, and genealogies and administration. Although both had a high social status, the Maya scribes were closer to the royal lineages and had greater freedom in their script writing, a possible indication that they had a shorter history of development compared to their Shang counterparts.