MAYANS a rainforest civilization Group 5 Hina Regina

MAYANS a rainforest civilization Group 5 Hina, Regina, John, Andrew

Geography and Time Period The Mayans lived in the Yacutan Peninsula The area was broken into two parts • Highlands Volcanoes here were the source of obsidian and jade- important for their development in trade • Lowlands Grow crops; their main food was corn Rivers in the lowlands were used for transportation routes. 2, 500 BC: Mayans form by settling in an area because of the discovery of farming 300 BC to 250 AD Organized Mayan Kingdoms emerge 250 AD to 600 AD Advanced civilization emerges

Government Social Structure Halach Uinic Nobles Government workers, Artisans, Merchants Slaves & Farmers • Arranged into independent city states • Social Structure ( see diagram) • were unified as a culture • were very strict, but the laws were pretty fair • Held trials • agriculture played a big part in their government

Economy • trading was important • Participated in long distance trade • different areas produced different types of products • based primarily on food and agriculture • Farmers acted as a big part of the economy • “ Maize” was the most important crop • Farmers used a techinque called slash- and-burn • Farmers transported their goods by canoe or in large baskets • Wealthy merchants employed porters

WRITING • Hundreds of Glyphs: logogram, syllabogram, pictogram • Paired columns of writing • Very complex • Could write anything they could say • Codices- bark papered books • Wrote about religion and science • Codices were destroyed by the Spanish • Only 4 codices survived: Paris, Madrid, Grolier, Dresden

BELIEFS • Polytheistic Honored nature gods • 2 million followers • Influenced by Olmecs • Believed in Afterlife • Human Sacrifice • Many Practices and Rituals • Stone Pyramid-Temple • Itamna • Yum Kaax • Chac

Technology Paint made from mica Vulcanization of rubber Aqueducts

Mayan Art and Architecture • • • ARCHITECTURE Architecture were called the richest of the new world. The architecture had many complex and different shapes. Built structures from small huts to large temples and statues. ART Three main styles of art. Sculptures, Painting and Performing Art. Mayans had musicians play as entertainment. Common form of a Mayan sculpture stela. Mayans would paint their vases to add color and make it pop.

Rise and Fall of the Mayan Civilization • • • The Maya Civilizations were the most dominate native civilization in Central and South America. RISE The earliest Mayan settlements are estimated to be found around 1800 BC. Early Mayan inhabitants hunted game that was indigenous to the area. The Mayans spread out along the highland areas and formed small settlements. FALL Around 900 AD the Mayan reign spread to more than 2, 000 people per square mile. A major drought hurt the civilization. The leaders were captured and the heirs to the throne couldn’t take up their position.

Contributions Astronomy Concept of Zero Cycle of Venus Orion Nebula Calendar Cycle of the moon Lunar eclipse

The End!!!

Resources • Maya= www. Localhistories. org/maya. html • Mayan Calender= www. webexhibits. org/calenders-mayan • Mayan Accomplishments= www. mexicamovement. org/ACCOMPLISHMENTS. html • Mayan Contributions= www. voiceseductation. org/content/contributionsmaya-people • Maya= www. ancientscripts. com/maya. html • Mayan Script= www. omniglot. com/writing/mayan. htm • Mayan Religion= http: //www. religionfacts. com/mayan_religion/index. htm • Mayan Religion= http: //www. atitlan. net/mayan-religion. htm

Resources • Mayan Art and Architecture= http: //www. crystalinks. com/mayanarch. html • Mayan Rise and Fall: http: //ngm. nationalgeographic. com/2007/08/maya-rise-fall/gugliotta-text • The Rise and Fall of the Mayan Empire: http: //www. history. com/topics/maya • Mayan Astronomy and Calendar Making: http: //www. history. com/topics/mayan-scientific-achievements • The Mayans: http: //www. u-s-history. com/pages/h 433. html • Mayan Astronomers: http: //www. kuxansuum. net/page 8. php • Mayan Justice- Crime, Court, Punishment: http: //mayas. mrdonn. org/justice. html

Resources • Ancient Mayans likely had fountains and toilets: http: //www. msnbc. msn. com/id/34575056/ns/technology_and_science/t/ancient-mayans-likely-had-fountains-toilets/#. Tps 9 TZu. Im 0 s • Mayan Society: http: //www. lost-civilizations. net/mayan-society. html • Economy of the Aztecs and Mayans: http: //www. hyperhistory. net/apwh/essays/comp/cw 13 nativeamerecono mics. htm • Mayan Government: http: //www. caa. uidaho. edu/arch 499/nonwest/mayan/agriculture. htm • Mayan Government: http: //mayas. mrdonn. org/government. html • Mayan Government: http: //www. kidsnewsroom. org/elmer/infocentral/frameset/civilizations/ maya/gov/