1 / 13

The Maya

The Maya. Chapter 23 Notes Video -- Maya Pyramids of Chichen Itza -- National Geographic. The Development of Mayan Civilization. “Mesoamerica”- what is it? Landscape: rainforests, grasslands, swamps, thick jungles. Origins. Took ideas from the Olmec (1200-500 BCE) Olmec:

micheal
Download Presentation

The Maya

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The Maya Chapter 23 Notes Video -- Maya Pyramids of Chichen Itza -- National Geographic

  2. The Development of Mayan Civilization • “Mesoamerica”- what is it? • Landscape: rainforests, grasslands, swamps, thick jungles

  3. Origins • Took ideas from the Olmec (1200-500 BCE) • Olmec: • Est. farming villages • Created trade routes • First to use a sun calendar • YouTube - Legends of the Hidden Temple - The Leopard-Skin Cloak of Annie Oakley (full episode, part 3)

  4. Pre-Classic (2,000 BCE-300 CE) • Simple houses & compounds • Public buildings for Govt. & Religion • Hieroglyphic writing

  5. Classic (300 CE-900 CE) & Post-Classic (900 CE- 1500 CE) • Independent States- (40 cities!) • Observatories /temples/pyramids/palaces • Astronomy & Math- • Northern cities prosper- (Yucatan Peninsula)- others disappear? Why?

  6. Class Structure • Social Pyramid- layers represent social classes of different rank or status • The Ruler-(halachuinic- “true man”)–God King • Nobles & Priests- • Only people who knew how to read or write • PRIESTS-rituals, sacrifices, future • Merchants & Artisans- sea, river, road trade routes • Peasants- backbone of Mayan Society • Slaves- • Born into slavery & sometimes sold • Criminals/War Prisoner’s

  7. Family Life • Roles • Men- work in the fields/ hunted & trapped animals/built buildings (temples, palaces)/ soldiers • Women- cooking, cleaning, childcare, sewing • Coming of Age Ceremony- 12(F) 14(M)- • Confessions, cleansing, reciting

  8. Marriage Customs • Girls-14 • Men- 20 • Negotiated by village atanzahab (matchmaker) • Specific Criteria negotiated • Hut built behind bride’s parents

  9. Beliefs & Rituals • Polytheistic- 160+ Gods • God of Rain, God of Corn, God of Death • Only Priest’s could read signs/perform rituals • Offerings: plants, food, jade, shells, animals, humans • Chichen Itza- sacred well YouTube - Xcaret - Pok-ta-Pok - Mayan ball game

  10. Sacred Calendar • 2 calendars • Daily- based on sun • 18 months of 20 days + 5 unlucky days= 365 days total • sacred/ritual-tzolkin or Sacred Round • 13 months of 20 days= 260 days total • 2 cycles: • Numbers 1-13 • 20 day names representing Gods • Plant, hunt, cure, do battle • Video -- Maya Doomsday Prophecy -- National Geographic

  11. Challenges Facing Mayan Farmer’s • Maize, beans, squash, chili peppers • Difficult -> dense forests, little H2O, poor soil • Mountains VS lowlands • Slash & Burn- ? • Drained swamps, cleared hillsides

  12. End of Classic Period • 900 CE, Maya had abandoned the jungles---why???? • Theories: • Populations grow faster than farming could sustain • Drought, dry weather • Uncontrolled warfare • Invaders from central Mexico • 2 million Maya still remain in Chiapas

  13. End of Classic Period • Theories: • Populations grow faster than farming could sustain • Drought, dry weather • Uncontrolled warfare • Invaders from central Mexico • 2 million Maya still remain in Chiapas

More Related