Maya Preclassic 1000 BC 250 AD Classic 300

Maya Pre-classic 1000 BC – 250 AD Classic 300 AD -1527 AD

“ Even today, life in the tropical rain forest of Middle America is an unending struggle for survival. So how was it that a flourishing civilization was created there by a race of Stone Age men? Without the wheel and with no metal the Mayas built great cities, developed a brilliant artistic culture and evolved a system of mathematics the equal of any in the world. Who were these mysterious people whose classic civilization collapsed before Columbus discovered America, but whose works still arouse the wonder of modern man? ”

Location • Mesoamerica • Mexico • Central America

Video Overview Maya creation Myth Maya's Got it Done Overview

Maya Government • Known as the Jaguar People • The Maya were NOT considered an empire - Its people were not united politically. • Maya civilization was made up of city-states. - Many important cities (Chichen Itza, Tikal, Copan, and Palenque), but no single capital. Chichen Itza • Each city-state had its own ruler and followed a caste system - King, Nobles, Priests, Warriors, Craftworkers and Merchants, farmers, then Slaves • Large headdress for importance • Kings passed down their position to their sons Uxmal

Maya Class System

Maya Economy • The Maya did not use "money" in the modern sense. • Economy was based primarily on trade and agriculture. • The Maya participated in long distance trade with many of the Mesoamerican cultures. • Maya farmers transported their cocoa beans to market by canoe or in large baskets strapped to their backs. • Wealthy merchants traveled further, employing porters, as there were no horses, pack animals or wheeled carts in Central America at that time. Jade Cacau Tree

Maya Education • The ancient Mayan education was taught differently. • They only taught education to higher people like Priests, chiefs, leaders, and war leaders. • Lower people still got education from their family, friends, and generations. They taught the younger ones what they ever learned throughout their lives. • Several values were stressed to Maya children. They not only desired for a strong work ethic , but working for the betterment of the community was necessary.

Maya Daily Life/Agriculture Men • Farmers: Used slash and burn techniques to grow maze (corn) was the main staple of a Mayan diet. Other crops included beans, squash, avocado pear, avocado, sweet potato, guava, chili peppers, cocoa beans, vanilla beans, papaya and tomatoes. • Hunters: Hunt for deer, turkey, duck, armadillo, quail, monkey, and iguana. Would use bow and arrows, spears, blowguns, darts, and snares. • Fisherman Women • Wife: Took care of the home, cooked, did the washing, raised the children. • Weavers: Made the textiles that was used for clothing and baskets.

Maya Religion • The Maya were polytheistic • The Maya practiced human sacrifice

Believed that Gods controlled everything Polytheism = Belief in many Gods Priests had great influence because Mayans thought priests could talk to the Gods Mayan Religious Beliefs Food animal sacrifices common; humans (such as defeated tribes) sometimes Gods symbolized as animals: Rain God = snake, Sun God = Jaguar, Death God= bat

Religion: The Ball Game • Mayans inherited a ball game from the Olmecs that was an important part of Mayan political and religious festivals • High-ranking captives were forced to play the game for their very lives – The losers became sacrificial victims and faced torture and execution immediately following the match • Object of the game was to propel an 8 inch ball of solid baked rubber through a ring or onto a marker without using your hands

Maya Accomplishments with an amazing level of accomplishments • The Mayas were the first Americans to develop a complete system of writing with the use of pictured glyphs. • Developed a system of math, more advanced that any European system. • Perhaps most notable in the year 2012, the Maya created elaborate calendars. It is the ancient Mayas that predicted the last day of our existence as being December 21, 2012.

Advances in learning • The Maya created a set of numerals • Also developed a 365 -day calendar

Astronomy • Masters of the Night Sky- known for their observatories • Accurately charted the planets by using a forked stick • Predicted eclipses of the sun

Maya Architecture Lost Pyramid • The Maya built towering temples and elaborate palaces. • The Maya are knows for large ball fields • Most Mayans lived in hay huts. Some lived in limestone buildings.

Mayas Today • Mayas live in Mexico and Central American • Speak Maya languages • Observe some religious customs of their ancestors combined with Christianity

What happened to the Maya? • The Maya abandoned many of their cities around 900 C. E. • Archaeologists don’t know why the Maya civilization declined. There are many questions.

Possible Causes of Collapse of Classic Mayan Civilization • Lack of Resources (Water - Food - Materials) -Population (Too many people to feed) -Revolution against the Government -Attack against the kings -Peasant uprising - -Invasion (foreign - tribal) -Location -Possible weather / climate concerns - Earthquakes, hurricanes -Epidemics of disease -Calendar prophesies -They Mayans believed they were headed for collapse because their calendar said they were, therefore they thought they should move to new centers

Maya Video Clips • http: //video. nationalgeographic. co m/video/kids/cartoons-tv-movieskids/are-we-there-yet-kids/awtymexico-pyramid-kids/ • http: //www. ballgame. org/sub_sec tion. asp? section=3&sub_section=1

References • The Ancient Maya • http: //www. digitalmeesh. com/maya/history. htm • Civilization. ca-Mystery of the Maya http: //www. civilization. ca/civil/maya/mmc 01 eng. html • Ancient Mayan Civilization http: //www. kidskonnect. com/Ancient. Mayan. Home. html • Traditions of the Sun http: //www. traditionsofthesun. org/Viewer. Yucatan/ • Pyramid of El Castillo http: //www. internetatwork. com/hos_mcgrane/chichen_castle. html#