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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:

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The Maya

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  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

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