Barker MAYAN CULTURES The Mayan civilization was developing

Barker MAYAN CULTURES

� The Mayan civilization was developing as the Roman Empire was declining! � Landscape�South- pine forests covered the highlands �North and central regions were rainforests, grasslands, and swamps known as lowlands �Thick jungle covered parts of the low lands and this is where Mayan civilization reached its highest development

Mayan Crops and Agriculture Planted crops such as maize, squash, beans, and chili peppers which kept the Mayans on a balanced and healthy diet/lifestyle � Due to terrains, Mayans developed several agriculture techniques � �Terrace farming in the mountains �Created raised earth platforms in the lowlands �In the dense forest they used slash and burn farming ○ Define in notes- Slash and Burn Agriculture-the cutting and burning of plants in forests or woodlands to create fields for planting crops.

Origins Mayan developed in western and southern Mexico � Developed their own system of Hieroglyphics � Lacked metal and had not discovered the wheel…they built elaborate cities with temple pyramids and observatories to study the sky � �LEAD TO DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHLY ACCURATE CALENDERS BASED ON MOVEMENT OF THE MOON, STARS AND PLANETS

How did the Mayan civilization begin and what was its political and economic structure? � � � Availability of resources led to trade between villages in the Yucatan Peninsula Trade led to wealth, sharing of resources and exchange of ideas Group of city-states- each with its own king, who claimed to be descended from the sun god Constructed public buildings for government and religious purposes � Center of each city-state was a ceremonial center consisting of temples, palaces for rulers/nobles, ball courts & markets

City states were united by their common culture; social system, language, calendar religion and way of life � Small villages surrounded the ceremonial center and made up the citystate � Kings expected the people to serve him � Royal women married into royal families of other city states which increased trade & formed alliances

What were the main cultural characteristics of the Mayan society? � Social Structure- Levels & role of each group

Ruler & family Nobles and Priests Craftsmen, merchants, traders Farmers and Hunters Slaves

Religion � Many city states had their own government with their own god who they believed was chosen by the sun god � Polytheistic � Practiced human sacrifices to honor the Gods

Temple structure for human sacrificesgames where losers were sacrificed, POWs also sacrificed

Religion cont…. � Sacred Round� Sacred ritual calendar Each day name represents a god � Mayan Gods� many had animal characteristics � Were forces that affected nature such as rain corn and death � Offerings and Sacrifices � animals or humans � to please the gods � Pok- a tok � losers of Mayan games were sacrificed � Sometimes slaves of higher rank were sacrificed

Achievements� Architecture � Astronomy � Calendar � Paper � Mathematics � Temples

Fall of the Mayan Culture In 900 CE the classic period ended but no one knows the real cause � Several theories have been names but none have been proven � �Over-farming created a drop in food production �Attack from enemies �Fighting among city-states �Rebellion of peasants that overthrew king and priests �Drought