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Priests held high status in Mayan society Only ones who knew the intricate rituals that Mayas believed would ensure bountiful harvests and victories in battle Towering temples dominated Mayan cities Rituals included sacrifices Mayan temples were the tallest buildings in the western hemisphere until 1903! Religion Famous temple at Chichen Itza
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The Mayas
Pre-Columbian Civilizations Olmecs
1400-500 B.C. Mayas
300-900 A.D. Aztecs
1200-1600 A.D. Incas
1430-1540 A.D.
Mesoamerican Civilizations
Priests held high status in Mayan society Only ones who knew the
intricate rituals that Mayas believed would ensure bountiful harvests and victories in battle
Towering temples dominated Mayan cities
Rituals included sacrifices Mayan temples were the
tallest buildings in the western hemisphere until 1903!
Religion
Famous temple at Chichen Itza
Majority of Mayan population was farmers
Intricate irrigation systems Men cultivated:
Maize (corn) Beans Squash
Women turned crops into foods
Farmers paid taxes in the form of food
Profitable trade system using elaborate series of dirt roads
Farming and Trade
Distinct social class Nobles helped
ruling chief manage taxes, military, and enforced laws
Women occasionally in positions of power
Social Structure
Chief
Nobles
Priests
Merchants and Artisans
Peasants and Slaves
Significant resources were used to create stadiums
Archaeologists have uncovered instruments in the stadiums
Teams had fans How was the game viewed by the
Mayas? How does this compare to our sports
today?
The Game of Life and Death
Around 900 A.D. Mayans abandoned their cities Culprits include
disease, warfare, famine, overpopulation, over-taxing
Decline
Architecture Vast temples and palaces Intricate cities Elaborate carvings on the wall depicted events
from Mayan history Agriculture
Clearing out dense rainforests and building raised fields that held and drained rainwater
Contributions
Learning and Science Developed intricate system of hieroglyphics Recorded writings in books made of bark Mayan priests developed accurate 365-day
calendar Needed to know exact time for rituals and
ceremonies Used a numbering system including zero
before the Europeans did
Contributions