1 / 12

16.2 – Maya Kings & Cities

16.2 – Maya Kings & Cities. Maya. Lands stretched from southern Mexico to northern Central America Lowlands (North) – rain forests & dry scrub Highlands (South) – cool, mountainous Built on Olmec influences. Urban Centers. 250-900 A.D. – Classic Period

kobe
Download Presentation

16.2 – Maya Kings & Cities

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. 16.2 – Maya Kings & Cities

  2. Maya • Lands stretched from southern Mexico to northern Central America • Lowlands (North) – rain forests & dry scrub • Highlands (South) – cool, mountainous • Built on Olmec influences

  3. Urban Centers • 250-900 A.D. – Classic Period • Build spectacular cities – Tikal, Copán, Chichén Itza • Formed independent city-states • Ruled by god-king • Centers for trade & religion • Feature pyramids, temples, elaborate carvings, ball courts

  4. Agriculture & Trade • City-states linked by two things: • Alliances & Trade • Trade salt, shells, honey, cotton textiles, jade • Cacao acts as currency • Diet: Maize, beans, & squash • Techniques: • Slash-&-Burn • Raised beds & terraces

  5. Society • Farming & trade = Huge amounts of wealth • Social classes develop • Nobles: priests & warriors • Middle: Merchants & artisans • Bottom: peasants • Kings on top society • Holy figure, hereditary

  6. Religion • Polytheistic • Good, evil, or both • Associated with directions & colors • North (White) • South (Yellow) • East (Red) • West (Black) • Center (Green) • Worshipped gods through food, flowers, & blood • Practiced human sacrifice • Victims into a cenote (hole) w/ gold, jade & offerings • Pleased the gods & balanced the world

  7. Math & Astronomy • Religion = development of calendars, math, & astronomy • Calendars very accurate • Days lucky or unlucky b/c of gods; had to know • Two linked calendars: • 260 & 365 days • Based on positioning of the sun, moon, & planets • Math system based on 20 & included zero = accuracy

  8. Written Language • Most advanced of the ancient Americas • Consisted of ~800 glyphs (symbols) • Whole words of syllables • Record writings in a codex • Famous writings: Popol Vuh • Recounts the Maya story of creation • P. 448

  9. Decline • Mysterious decline • Late-800s: abandon cities • Toltecs settle in lands & change culture • Warfare increases & disrupts trade • Population growth & over-farming = shortages & famine • Maya are weak & divided by time Spaniards arrive

More Related