Key Vocabulary

astronomy The study of space, the objects in space and the universe

civilisation A human society with its own social organisation and culture

Chichen ItzaA village in the Yucatan State in Mexico; the site of important Mayan ruins - a World Heritage Site.

cultureThe ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular group of people or society

craftsmen People who make things, skilfully, with their hands

deforestation When all of the trees are cut down

deities Gods or goddesses

droughtA continuous period of dry weather when an area gets less than its normal amount of rain

erosion The gradual removal of rock or soil

fertile Rich in nutrients to support the growth of many plants

hierarchyA system of organising people into different ranks or levels of importance

indigenousPeople or things that belong to the country which they are found in

MesoamericaCentral America, the countries consist of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize and the western sections of Honduras and Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica

plaza An open square in a city

population The number of people living in a country, city or area

society A group of people living in a particular country or region

traders People who buy and sell goods (merchants)

Key Questions

What was important to the Mayans?

Mayans believed in many nature gods or deities. Priests were considered the most important people in the Mayan culture. Warriors, craftsmen and traders were next in the hierarchy. Farmers, workers and slaves were at the bottom of the hierarchy.

What were Mayan cities like?

The Mayans lived in cities near trade routes and good farmland. The cities had similar layouts to each other with a palace for the ruler and a plaza for the marketplace and temples, in the form of pyramids. In the city, Mayan merchants traded goods including salt, cotton, honey and jade.

How has the Mayan civilisation impacted on our life today?

The Mayans developed sciences beyond the ideas in the Western World for a long time. Their feats in astronomy, maths and writing were advanced. In maths, they were the first people to use the number ‘0’ and were advanced in tool-making and technology. They created high rise structures, using a material close to cement, in 300 BC.

2000 BC AD 250 AD 600 AD 900 AD 1502

The Mayan civilisation begins in Mesoamerica. Small villages

evolved into cities and hierarchies began to emerge.

By this stage, the Mayans had many established cities. They had monuments, pyramids and had devised writing and maths

systems.

The Mayan population exceeded 5 million. Excessive

farming and deforestation (due to the overflow from the cities) led to the land becoming less

fertile.

The quality of the fields are poor and this, combined with land erosion, leads to a drought.

Many Mayan cities are deserted due to deforestation, drought and

war.

Ships with Spanish explorers arrive. They brought many

diseases which led to the death of many Mayans.

The Mayan Civilisation - Y6

To be able to remember and recall some of the key facts about the Mayan civilisation. To be able to place historical events on a timeline. To understand how the Mayan civilisation has impacted our lives today.