In the Mayan time system, a Baktun is made up of how many Katuns?

In the Mayan time system, a Baktun is indeed defined as comprising 20 Katuns. This assertion is rooted in the structure of the Mayan Long Count calendar, which is a vigesimal (base-20) system. Each time unit is hierarchically organized:

• One Baktun equals 144,000 days.
• One Katun consists of 7,200 days.
• Therefore, when calculating the number of Katuns in a Baktun, the division shows that there are 20 Katuns per Baktun (since 144,000 days divided by 7,200 days per Katun equals 20).

This structured approach to timekeeping underscores the Mayans' sophisticated understanding of calendar systems and their ability to record historical events across vast periods. By correctly identifying that a Baktun consists of 20 Katuns, one can better appreciate the complex chronology that the Mayans employed in their historical narratives and cultural practices.