The Maya Civilization

Goals for Today:

To identify and describe the achievements of the Maya civilization

To compare ways the Maya forged their civilization with ways the Greeks forged theirs during each people’s classical period

The Mystery of the Maya

Rose approximately 600 years after the Olmec declined

Many books were lost or destroyed; therefore, some details of their lives still remain a mystery

The Mystery of the Maya

Stone pyramids and plazas hint at a complex culture

Created a written language

Achieved a remarkable understanding of stars and planets

Kept records of work and created stone carvings

Geography

Developed on the lowlands of the Yucatan peninsula and the highlands of present-day Guatemala

Fast Facts

Developed culture based on agriculture and hunting

One of the richest civilizations yet seen in the Americas

Called the “Classic Period”

What is a Classis Period?

a period that is an important time of cultural achievement for a civilization

What are some other Classic Periods that you can think of?

Greece, Rome

The Mayan city of Copan

Located in present-day Honduras

Had a grand ball court where the fierce Maya ball game Poktu-Pok was played

Players wore helmets and padding on arms and legs (the game was ROUGH!)

Poktu-Pok

Used a five pound solid rubber ball

Included two teams each team would rush up and

down the court trying to get the ball through a stone hoop

If they succeeded, they won the game

Poktu-Pok

Game was a part of Mayan religion

Those who lost were sometimes killed as a sacrifice to Maya gods

The Maya believed their gods would help them if they sacrificed somethings as important as human life

Which other civilization played a similar game 600 years earlier? The Olmec

Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKvQjgC9sIY

Copan Buildings

Included temple-like pyramids Built of huge stone blocks

Did not have wheels or work animals, all moving and lifting was done by humans

Sometimes work was done by enslaved people who had been captured in wars

Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voY8jNcuGe8

Copan at its Peak

Over 20,000 people

Crowded with hundreds of buildings

Most people were farmers

Maize

Agriculture was the heart of the economy

Maize (corn) was the most important part of their diet

Yum Kax was a maize god (this god was a important part of Maya religion)

The Maya creation myth

According to Maya belief, a god created people from maize dough

The Maya performed special ceremonies for the planting and harvesting of maize

Religion

Consisted of 3 levels Upper-world of the heavens

Middle-world of humans

Under-world of the dead

Believed king could communicate with the upper-world and could also bring spirits to the middle-world

The Maya worshiped hundreds of gods Believed that ancestors lived in

the upper-world

Other Crops

The Maya grew:

Beans

Squash

Cacao trees (provided chocolate!)

Avocado

Papaya

Like the Olmec, the Maya also hunted animals such as deer.

Growing up in Copan

Boys and girls lived very differently

Boys:

Moved out in teen years and moved into large group homes

There they learned to play Poktu Pok and to become soldiers

Girls:

Stayed at home

They were strictly raised by their mothers

Learned how to cook maize and other food

Learned how to run a household

Maya Society

At the top of the society was the KING

Warriors

Wealthy Farmers

Merchants

Farmers (largest group, like in Mesopotamia and Egypt)

Slaves (prisoners of war)

Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30DLAUXiRPY

Stars and Planets

Closely studied the stars and planets

Venus was especially important – its movements were used to make decisions about when to attack other cities

By studying the night sky, the Maya were able to develop an accurate calendar This calendar allowed them to

record exact dates in history

Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhWItvjk9Yg

Writing

Symbols called glyphs were carved into stones of Maya cities and towns

A magnificent 72-step stairway includes lists of heroic deeds and deaths of Maya leaders

Leaders also had tall, flat stones (stelae carved with glyphs)

Used to mark a historical event in the life of the leader

How are these glyphs similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics?

Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9LRbLXMzyM

Mathematics

The Maya developed a system that helped merchants to keep track of goods

Scribes used the system to keep track of history

The mathematical system helped the Maya to make exact calculations

Short Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVPOSvPNn28

Sum it Up

Built a complex civilization in Middle America

Created large cities that contained temples, ball courts, and other buildings

Maya religion was an important way of life (practiced polytheism)

Developed systems of writing and math that allowed them to record important events in history

Checking for Understanding

What was the most important crop to the Maya?

What was one kind of god that the Maya worshiped?

What are three achievements that set the Maya apart from earlier Middle American civilizations?

What made the Maya civilization “classical?”