Maya
250 AD 900s ADMayaMain IdeasGeography helped shape the lives of
the Maya.
The Maya built great cities linked by trade.
Maya culture was influenced by social structure, religion, and
achievements in science and the arts.
The decline of Maya civilization began in the 900s, for reasons
that are still unclear.
GeographyThe region known as Mesoamerica stretches from the
central area of Mexico south to the northern part of Central
America. Maya civilization developed on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Thick tropical forestsGrew a variety of crops (maize/corn,
beans, squash, avocados)Natural resources provided game for hunting
& materials for building
How is GEOGRAPHY influencing Maya civilization?Check for
UnderstandingLivingIncreased trade among small villages helped spur
growth and the development of large city areas known as
city-statesEach city-state was ruled by a king & its own
government; no one ever unified all the Maya cities, but trade kept
the cities together because they were dependent on one another for
materials that could not be found elsewhereBuildings: built large
palaces, had stone pyramids with temples, built canals, had large
paved plazas, or open squares, for public gatherings, stone walls
shaped hillsides to create flat terraces for farming, stone courts
for a special ball game (sport)
In regards to their buildings, what can you determine the Maya
people value in society?Check for UnderstandingCultureSocial
StructureKING related to the gods = religious AND political
authorityPriests, merchants & warriors = UPPER classFarmers
LOWER class (most of society)Men farmed, hunted, & crafted
tools, served in army during times of warWomen care for children,
cooked, made yarn, wove clothPaid portion of crops to the upper
classSlaves carried goods along trade routes or were servants of
the upper class
ReligionPolytheistic (belief of many gods)Gods could be helpful
or harmful
Think of social structure as a pyramid. Who would be on the top?
The bottom?Check for Understanding
AchievementsBuilt observatories buildings where people could
study the skyStudy of astronomy help create 2 calendars365 days
guided planting, harvesting, & other farming activities260 day
religious eventsNumber system one of the first civilizations to use
0Writing system similar to hieroglyphics to record their
historyJewelry was made from gold & jadeTools were made from
obsidian
Decline of CivilizationMANY possible theories, but no one knows
for sureLower class decided to rebel against their kings, maybe
left their citiesIncreased warfare may have destroyed cities,
disrupted trade, & killed many peopleToo many people & not
enough food farming the same crops could have weakened the land and
caused cities to fight over new land, leading to warClimate change
droughts occurred during the same period of the decline
