1. The Maya Civilization By: Amineh, Ian, Jeff, & Shivram

2. Table of Contents • Government • Religion • Agriculture • Cultural & Scientific Contributions • Location • Bibliography

3. Government • The Mayan government was a monarchy. But there was no one ruler; There were emperors that governed each city-state • Mayan chiefs were called bataboobs. Emperors were in the main seat of power. Priests were also regarded with much respect. A depiction of a Mayan city-state .

4. Religion • They were polytheistic; they worshiped the elements, thus creating a god for each element. Some gods were the god of corn (Yun Kaax) and the god of rainbows (Ix Chel). • The Mayans made sacrificial offerings to the gods and had brutal punishments for prisoners. An ancient Mayan temple One of the gods of the Mayan religion

5. Agriculture • Corn, called maize, was the most important crop. Others were beans, papaya, watermelon, chilies, squash, sweet potatoes, and cotton • They trained dogs to help hunt • Other practices are hunting, honey-collecting, and building canals for irrigation Corn, or maize was the Mayan’s main crop

6. Cultural & Scientific Contributions • The Mayan contributions to culture were music, architecture (temples, pyramids), crafting, goldsmith, and most importantly, writing • The Mayan people made herbal medicines, and discovered the first 365 - day calendar This is the Mayan calendar.

7. Location • Near the Gulf of Mexico • The Maya were located primarily in Mexico, but were also found in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize

8. Bibliography • Nicholson, Robert. The Maya. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1994. • George, Charles, and Linda George. Life During the Great Civilizations: The Maya. Cleveland, OH: Thomson Gale, 2004. • Trout, Lawana Hooper. The Maya. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1991. • Macdonald, Fiona. Step Into The...Aztec & Maya Worlds. Vancouver: Lorenz Books, 1998. • Sherrow, Victoria. The Maya Indians. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1994.