Mayans were known as people of “corn”Ate a lot of crops (beans, squash, avocado pear etc.)FruitDogs, turkeys & ducks

Farmers!They used some crops to make dye for clothing & gumUsed plants to make medicine

Used timber from the jungle to build homes & temples

Used feathers from turkeys & ducks for clothes & cotton!

King

Commoner

Priest

Slaves

Family was important!Families lived togetherChildren helped mothers with chores& ONLY wealthy children went toSchool!

Complex religionWorshipped heroes, deities, & ancestorsnot Saints like Europeans!Priests were responsible to link this world & the one of deities & spiritsBelieved in nature, mythology, & afterlifePrayed & made offerings of food, flowers, & incensePierced their bodies to nourish & calm GodsGave gold, jade, & other offerings to Gods

Built a lot of temples& pyramidsSkilled road buildersCreated one of the most advanced road systems of their timeSolar & religious calendar(GLYPH- Calendar/ SymbolicPicture)Built a major center in Guatemalacalled TIKAL

Developed a writingSystem called CODEXused it to record information from the bark of fig trees(which is a book) Developed a mathematical systembased on the number 20Among the first people to use the number 0They passed down a sacred religiousbook of the Mayans(bible) called POPOL VUH

There was a drought so itwas hard for them to farm

They over used the landso they had to move out!

They had royal wars so it made it hard to farm& they died of hunger & diseases

Http://www.history.com/topics/maya

Http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1574-the-ancient-maya-a-commercial-empire

Http://www.neatorama.com/2007/06/19/explaining-the-mystery-of-the-vanished-maya/

Www.google.com