What role did the colonizing Spaniards play in the long process of understanding the Maya?

Answer:The Spanish colonization of the Maya officially began in 1521 when Francisco de Montejo petitioned the King of Spain for the right to conquer the Yucatan ... Aiding in the Spanish conquest was the introduction of European diseases, which decimated Mayan populations since they had developed no immunity.

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.