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Maya

Maya. 300-900. Maya. Present day southeast Mexico, Belize and Guatemala (Yucatan Peninsula) Population at the height = 14million people City centers at Copan, Palenque, Uxmal, Uaxctun and Tikal Tikal was home to 50,000 people and a center for: . Government Education Economics Science

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Maya

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  1. Maya 300-900

  2. Maya • Present day southeast Mexico, Belize and Guatemala (Yucatan Peninsula) • Population at the height = 14million people • City centers at Copan, Palenque, Uxmal, Uaxctun and Tikal • Tikal was home to 50,000 people and a center for: • Government • Education • Economics • Science • Spiritual practices

  3. Mayan Farming • Farming villages surrounded religious cities • Farming Methods: • Burned forest land, then used it until the land was no good • Built raised fields along riverbeds

  4. Mayan Trade • Traders had roads made of packed earth • Roads linked cities and busy marketplaces • Traded • Honey • Salt • Cotton • Feathers • Jade • Jaguar pelts

  5. Maya Religion • Polytheistic (160+ Gods) • Had sacrifices • Creator God – Hzamna • Rain God – Chac • Sun God – K’inichAjaw • Some elements of Mayan religion still maintained today

  6. Maya Government • No major empire – instead City-states– required • Allegiance to the king • Participation in ritual activities • Warfare and trade = constant theme of life • Regular contact through trade makes them lots of money! $$$$ • Most powerful cities • Tikal • Calakmul

  7. Maya Social Classes (and job specialization) • Military leaders • Managers of public works • Tax collectors • Law enforcement • Wealthiest merchants Ruler nobles Scribes, painters and sculptors Middle class - merchants farmers Slaves – war captives

  8. Mayan Writing • Adapted hieroglyphics from the Olmecs • Scribes carved inscriptions and recorded: • Rulers • City-states • Dates and descriptions of events • Astronomy • Rituals • Religious matters • Most were destroyed by Spanish conquerors

  9. Mayan Arts and Architecture • Built flat topped pyramids that are still visited today • Pyramids were: • Royal residences • Government centers • Burial places

  10. Arts and Architecture cont. • Stela – carved stone columns/monuments in which records were kept • called tetun – which means “tree rock”

  11. Other Maya Achievements • Developed idea of zero • Number system based on 20 • Predict eclipses of sun and moon • Developed calendar with 365 days – so they could hold ceremonies at the correct times • Recorded time, astronomical events, their history and their religion

  12. Maya Decline • No one is sure how they declined, but many theories • Famine • Disease • Over farming • Overpopulation • Rebellion/frequent warfare/harsh government • Were eventually conquered by the Spaniards and became assimilated (blended) into the larger culture that developed in the region • Their location allowed many Maya to survive encounters with Spanish • Still Mayan people and beliefs in Mexico and Guatemala today

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