The Mayas

Pre-Columbian Civilizations Olmecs

1400-500 B.C. Mayas

300-900 A.D. Aztecs

1200-1600 A.D. Incas

1430-1540 A.D.

Mesoamerican Civilizations

Priests held high status in Mayan society Only ones who knew the

intricate rituals that Mayas believed would ensure bountiful harvests and victories in battle

Towering temples dominated Mayan cities

Rituals included sacrifices Mayan temples were the

tallest buildings in the western hemisphere until 1903!

Religion

Famous temple at Chichen Itza

Majority of Mayan population was farmers

Intricate irrigation systems Men cultivated:

Maize (corn) Beans Squash

Women turned crops into foods

Farmers paid taxes in the form of food

Profitable trade system using elaborate series of dirt roads

Farming and Trade

Distinct social class Nobles helped

ruling chief manage taxes, military, and enforced laws

Women occasionally in positions of power

Social Structure

Chief

Nobles

Priests

Merchants and Artisans

Peasants and Slaves

Significant resources were used to create stadiums

Archaeologists have uncovered instruments in the stadiums

Teams had fans How was the game viewed by the

Mayas? How does this compare to our sports

today?

The Game of Life and Death

Around 900 A.D. Mayans abandoned their cities Culprits include

disease, warfare, famine, overpopulation, over-taxing

Decline

Architecture Vast temples and palaces Intricate cities Elaborate carvings on the wall depicted events

from Mayan history Agriculture

Clearing out dense rainforests and building raised fields that held and drained rainwater

Contributions

Learning and Science Developed intricate system of hieroglyphics Recorded writings in books made of bark Mayan priests developed accurate 365-day

calendar Needed to know exact time for rituals and

ceremonies Used a numbering system including zero

before the Europeans did

Contributions