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Central and South American Natives. 8 History. Maya Empire. History. Settlements formed about 1800 BC, the height of the empire came about 250-500 AD with about 2 million Mayans in the Cities of Stone, they mysteriously declined and disappeared by 900 AD. Territory.
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Central and South American Natives 8 History
History Settlements formed about 1800 BC, the height of the empire came about 250-500 AD with about 2 million Mayans in the Cities of Stone, they mysteriously declined and disappeared by 900 AD
Home, religion and school • Worshipped gods of nature • Believed in an afterlife • Had temples, places, pyramids, statues, and plazas in honor of the many gods • They practiced human sacrifice • They used a hieroglyphic writing system
Appearance • Bathedoften • Pierced their • ears • Covered their • bodies in tattoos • and paint • Dressed colorfully • with lots of jewelry • and hats • Loved straight black hair with high cheek bones
Social Structure • Top – leaders, nobles and priests • Middle class - craftsmen, traders, and warriors • Bottom – farmers, peasants, and other workers • Slaves were captured from warring tribes, worked in nobles’ homes caring for children, cleaning, working fields
Government • Kings or “Holy Lords,” claimed to be related to the Gods • They decided when to plant crops, when to marry, and who to sacrifice • The Holy Lords were thought to serve as mediators between the gods and people on earth • Noble families controlled the city states
Videos Overview http://www.history.com/topics/maya/videos#the-mayans Encounter http://www.history.com/topics/maya/videos#mayan-encounter Dooms Day http://www.history.com/topics/maya/videos#ask-history-did-the-maya-predict-2012