Final answer:
The Maya code is an ancient glyph-based writing system of the Maya civilization, with pictographic symbols representing words and syllables, which until deciphered, obscured our understanding of Maya history and culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Maya code refers to the intricate and complex writing system developed by the ancient Maya civilization. This system, which dates back to at least 300 BCE, used a combination of pictographic symbols, or glyphs, to represent both entire words and individual spoken syllables. The Maya code could express the same word through different glyphs, and similarly, one glyph could have various forms. This diversity in representation made the code particularly difficult to decipher. However, as outlined in the documentary Cracking the Maya Code, the eventual understanding of this writing system radically transformed scholars' views of Maya civilization and enabled a resurgence of interest in Maya language and culture. This was especially significant since the culture and language had been subject to severe repression in the past.