Chapter 17Latin America:

Shaped by Its History

• What does Mesoamerica mean?• A term used to describe the culture of the native people of central and

southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras, and El Salvador

• Where is Latin American?• Central America and South America

• Why is the region called Latin American?• Most Latin Americans speak Latin-based languages; Specifically

Spanish and Portuguese.

What do you already know?

The MayasWho were the people of this ancient civilization and what were they like?

Pok-ta-tok

Pok-ta-tok

• It is not certainly known how this Maya ball game was played but according to the most widespread version of it, the goal of the game was to pass the ball through one of the rings without touching it, the players needed to strike the ball with their hips. They used a solid rubber ball about 20 inches in diameter and weighed up to 4 kg (9 lbs) or more. It was extremely difficult to get the ball through a ring. In fact, when a player could achieve it, it was then the end of the game. The game ended otherwise when the ball touched the ground.

• The sport was some times played for recreational purpose but major formal ball games were held as ritual events, often featuring human sacrifice.

• The Mayan ball game was such a solemn experience with ritual importance where religious leaders, chieftains and other government leaders attended. Sacred songs and dances were performed as well as other religious activities.

• Some theories say that the winners of the game were treated as heroes and given a great feast while the penalty for losing a game was death. The leader of the team who lost the game was harshly sacrificed.

• According to Mayan beliefs, human sacrifice was necessary for obtaining continued success in agriculture, trade and general health.

The Mayas

• Ancestors of the Mayans date back to about 1000 BC.

• Mayan civilization lasted for more than 2,000 years

• They lived in the lowlands of Mesoamerica (the hot, humid jungles) and in the highlands (mountains, volcanoes, and canyons)

Civilization

• There are more than 100 locations of Mayan ruins

• Cities were designed and constructed to pay tribute to their gods.

• Priests lived in the “cities.” Regular people lived in small farming villages outside the cities.

Government and Religion

• Kings were thought to have the ability to talk directly to the gods

• Top political leader was: halach uinic (True Man). Passed from father to son

• Worshipped more than 160 gods and goddesses

• Main gods were: • corn god• rain god• sun god• moon goddess.

http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/pyramids-in-latin-america/videos/where-did-it-come-from-the-ancient-maya---astronomy?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

Great Achievements

• Developed a complex understanding of astronomy

• They also figured out how to grow corn, beans, squash in sometimes-inhospitable places

• Built elaborate cities without modern machinery

• Communicated with one another using one of the world’s first written languages

• Measured time using not one but two complicated calendar systems

http://www.history.com/topics/mayan-scientific-achievements

Maya or Myth?

• [1] The Maya believed people were created from maize. [Answer: True]

• [2] People living in different Maya cities all spoke the same language. [Answer: False]

• [3] The Maya civilization extended from Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to Panama. [Answer: False. Maya civilization in Mesoamerica includes parts of Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula), Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.]

• [4] The Maya used wooden boards to elongate infants' heads. [Answer: True]

Maya or Myth?

• [5] The Maya used looms to weave their own clothing. [Answer: True]

• [6] The Maya put gold fillings in their teeth. [Answer: False. The Maya used jade, pyrite, hematite, or turquoise.]

• [7] Cacao beans were used to make jewelry. [Answer: False. Cacao beans were used as currency.]

• [8] The Maya believed the number 13 was very unlucky. [Answer: False. The number 13 was considered a sacred number.]

• [9] The Maya sutured wounds with human hair. [Answer: True]

• [10] The first Maya settlements are about 1,000 years old. [Answer: False. The first Maya settlements are more than 1,000 years old.]

Maya or Myth?

• [11] The Maya built stone columns called stelae to ward off evil spirits. [Answer: False. The stelae were used to record religious dates, chart family trees, glorify rulers, and chronicle wars.]

• [12] In some parts of the Maya civilization, a sacred cenote was a sinkhole used for sacrifices. [Answer: True]

• [13] The Maya deposited the bones of hunted animals in sacred caves. [Answer: True]

• [14] The ancient Maya practiced bloodletting because they thought it cleansed their bodies. [Answer: False. Bloodletting was done to please the gods, celebrate events, and maintain power.]

• [15] Players in the Maya ball game couldn't touch the ball with their hands or feet. [Answer: True]