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The Maya

The Maya . Chapter 23. Overview of the Mayan Civilization. An advanced civilization that included more than 40 cities Chichen Itza Palengue Tikal Copan

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The Maya

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  1. The Maya Chapter 23

  2. Overview of the Mayan Civilization • An advanced civilization that included more than 40 cities • Chichen Itza • Palengue • Tikal • Copan • It lasted from about 2000 BCE to 1500 CE (That’s about 3500 years!) • The civilization spread over present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala and Belize

  3. The Development of the Mayan Civilization • Built on ideas inherited from the Olmec- a people who lived and farmed in the Jungle on the east coast of Mexico • The Olmec created permanent settlements as well as trade routes • The Mayan built on many Olmec accomplishments including growing corn, developing larges religious and ceremonial centers, and use a solar calendar • Around 50 BCE, the Mayans started to adapt the Olmec writing system into their own system of hieroglyphics

  4. Even More Achievements... • Built enormous stone cities with elaborate temple-pyramids • Did this WITHOUT the wheel or metal tools • They also charted the movement of the moon, stars, and planets • Created a complex and accurate calendar • The kingdom was composed of many independent states

  5. Maya Class Structure Each city-state was organized with it’s own social structure *like the pyramid RULER: called the halachuinic (true man). Decided when and where to go to war. NOBLES/ PRIESTS: knew how to read and write. Nobles were officials who oversaw administration of the states. Priests maintained favor with the gods. MERCHANTS/ ARTISANS: Traded by sea, river, and roads. Imported what they did not have in their region. Artisans made objects to pay tribute to the gods. PEASANTS: The backbone of Mayan society. Worked the fields growing maize (corn), squash, beans, etc. Also built pyramids and temples and served as soldiers during war. SLAVES: performed manual labor. Could be born a slave or become one by being sold into slavery, war prisoners, or punishment for crimes. NOT TREATED BADLY.

  6. Family Life Peasants lived in one-room huts built of woven poles and mud. Several family houses were often grouped around a courtyard. WOMEN: Made food from scratch (tortillas, tamales, hot chocolate, etc.), cared fro children and family animals, cleaned the home, made cloth. MEN: Worked the fields, hunted, and constructed palaces and temples. Served as soldiers.

  7. Special Occasions A baptism – like ceremony at birth for the baby to be blessed 3-month ceremony- baby girl was introduces to tools she would use in her life 4-month ceremony- baby boy was given farming tools Coming –of- age ceremony- girls (12) boys (14) Symbols of innocence are removed while participants recite rules and confess Marriage- men (20yo), women (14yo). Marriages were negotiated by the village atanzahab (matchmaker). Families negotiated for how much food would be given to the bride’s family and how long the groom would work for the bride’s family

  8. Beliefs and Rituals • Polytheistic religion (belief in many gods) • Important to honor the gods so that they did not destroy the world they had created • No decision was made without seeking the god’ advice • Priests performed sacrifices and conducted ceremonies. • Believed that blood gave the gods strength so they sacrificed animals and humans (often orphans, slaves and captured nobles) The pok-a-tok losing team was often sacrificed as well

  9. The Sacred Calendar Calendar was based on mathematics and astronomy • Daily calendar: based on the solar year- 18 months of 20 days each plus 5 unlucky days (365 days) • Sacred calendar (tzolkin- sacred round): based on 13 months of 20 days (260 days) • Only priests could read the sacred round- they were consulted on everything based on this calendar

  10. Challenges facing Mayan Farmers:CROP FAILURE MAY HAVE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE CLASSIC MAYAN CIVILIAZAION • Difficult to grow enough food for the growing population • Had poor soil, little water, and dense forest • Built terraces in the mountainous areas • Created raised- earth platforms surrounded by canals in the swampy lowlands • Slash and burn agriculture used in dense forest area

  11. The End of the Classic Period A great mystery as to how this happened. SOME POSIBILITIES: Population grew too fast and farming could not keep up Long periods of draught caused massive crop failure Uncontrolled warfare Invaders from central Mexico helped destroy the Mayan city-states ABOUT 2 MILLION MAYA STILL LIVE THOURHGOUT SOUTHERN MEXICO, BLIZE, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND EL SALVADOR

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