What role did the colonizing spaniards play in the long process of understanding the maya?

Despite their role in the conquest, colonization and exploitation of Indian peoples in Mesoamerica,  Spanish officials, priests and travelers are one of the most important sources of knowledge about the old cultures of the pre-Hispanic era. They wrote chronicles and history books and other documents describing Mayan codices, architectural works, hieroglyphs and some customs and even Mayan legends or myths.

Explanation:

answer: wait what

explanation:

the catholic church withhold people's access to the bible during the middle ages.

people could go to church and listen to the teachings, but it was absolutely forbidden to own and/or read the books of both the old and new testaments. it was also prohibited to translate the books (which where originally in biblical hebrew) to any other language.

this was done so the church could remain in control of what their teachings were and to enhance their importance and power, while also being able to judge people's actions through information that was unavailable for the general public.