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The Maya Civilization
Goals for Today:
To identify and describe the achievements of the Maya civilization
To compare ways the Maya forged their civilization with ways the Greeks forged theirs during each people’s classical period
The Mystery of the Maya
Rose approximately 600 years after the Olmec declined
Many books were lost or destroyed; therefore, some details of their lives still remain a mystery
The Mystery of the Maya
Stone pyramids and plazas hint at a complex culture
Created a written language
Achieved a remarkable understanding of stars and planets
Kept records of work and created stone carvings
Geography
Developed on the lowlands of the Yucatan peninsula and the highlands of present-day Guatemala
Fast Facts
Developed culture based on agriculture and hunting
One of the richest civilizations yet seen in the Americas
Called the “Classic Period”
What is a Classis Period?
a period that is an important time of cultural achievement for a civilization
What are some other Classic Periods that you can think of?
Greece, Rome
The Mayan city of Copan
Located in present-day Honduras
Had a grand ball court where the fierce Maya ball game Poktu-Pok was played
Players wore helmets and padding on arms and legs (the game was ROUGH!)
Poktu-Pok
Used a five pound solid rubber ball
Included two teams each team would rush up and
down the court trying to get the ball through a stone hoop
If they succeeded, they won the game
Poktu-Pok
Game was a part of Mayan religion
Those who lost were sometimes killed as a sacrifice to Maya gods
The Maya believed their gods would help them if they sacrificed somethings as important as human life
Which other civilization played a similar game 600 years earlier? The Olmec
Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKvQjgC9sIY
Copan Buildings
Included temple-like pyramids Built of huge stone blocks
Did not have wheels or work animals, all moving and lifting was done by humans
Sometimes work was done by enslaved people who had been captured in wars
Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voY8jNcuGe8
Copan at its Peak
Over 20,000 people
Crowded with hundreds of buildings
Most people were farmers
Maize
Agriculture was the heart of the economy
Maize (corn) was the most important part of their diet
Yum Kax was a maize god (this god was a important part of Maya religion)
The Maya creation myth
According to Maya belief, a god created people from maize dough
The Maya performed special ceremonies for the planting and harvesting of maize
Religion
Consisted of 3 levels Upper-world of the heavens
Middle-world of humans
Under-world of the dead
Believed king could communicate with the upper-world and could also bring spirits to the middle-world
The Maya worshiped hundreds of gods Believed that ancestors lived in
the upper-world
Other Crops
The Maya grew:
Beans
Squash
Cacao trees (provided chocolate!)
Avocado
Papaya
Like the Olmec, the Maya also hunted animals such as deer.
Growing up in Copan
Boys and girls lived very differently
Boys:
Moved out in teen years and moved into large group homes
There they learned to play Poktu Pok and to become soldiers
Girls:
Stayed at home
They were strictly raised by their mothers
Learned how to cook maize and other food
Learned how to run a household
Maya Society
At the top of the society was the KING
Warriors
Wealthy Farmers
Merchants
Farmers (largest group, like in Mesopotamia and Egypt)
Slaves (prisoners of war)
Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30DLAUXiRPY
Stars and Planets
Closely studied the stars and planets
Venus was especially important – its movements were used to make decisions about when to attack other cities
By studying the night sky, the Maya were able to develop an accurate calendar This calendar allowed them to
record exact dates in history
Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhWItvjk9Yg
Writing
Symbols called glyphs were carved into stones of Maya cities and towns
A magnificent 72-step stairway includes lists of heroic deeds and deaths of Maya leaders
Leaders also had tall, flat stones (stelae carved with glyphs)
Used to mark a historical event in the life of the leader
How are these glyphs similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics?
Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9LRbLXMzyM
Mathematics
The Maya developed a system that helped merchants to keep track of goods
Scribes used the system to keep track of history
The mathematical system helped the Maya to make exact calculations
Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVPOSvPNn28
Sum it Up
Built a complex civilization in Middle America
Created large cities that contained temples, ball courts, and other buildings
Maya religion was an important way of life (practiced polytheism)
Developed systems of writing and math that allowed them to record important events in history
Checking for Understanding
What was the most important crop to the Maya?
What was one kind of god that the Maya worshiped?
What are three achievements that set the Maya apart from earlier Middle American civilizations?
What made the Maya civilization “classical?”