The Mayan Civilization

Standard to learn Standard 7.7: Students will examine the geography, government, economy, religion, and society of the Maya. Objective: to be able to describe the rise and fall of the Mayan civilization.

Warm-up Changing Moods For centuries, people have been wondering what causes good things to happen. For example, what causes winter weather to be very mild one year and very severe the next? Or what causes good days and bad days? Think about your own good days and bad days. What do you think causes them?

Warm-up starter activity- Write a paragraph about a typical good day for you. How do you feel? How do you act? What do you do on a good day? Identify what you think is responsible for your mood on such a day. Write a second paragraph about a typical bad day for you. What makes you feel bad or causes you to do something you wish you hadn’t done? If you never have bad days, good for you! Share your secret with your friends.

Mayan Region

The Mayans Around 1500 BC the Mayans began to build villages. The Mayans built their villages in Guatemala, Belize, Southern Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras.

The Mayans Known as “The People of the Jaguar.”

Mayans Mayan Civilization lasted for almost 3500 years. It was at its height between 300 CE and 900 CE. There were three main periods of development: Pre-Classic, Classic, and Post-Classic.

Mayan Achievements Mayans were known more for their contribution in the arts and sciences Among the Mayan accomplishments they were considered the first western astronomers. They developed an accurate calendar.

Mayan Achievements The Mayans developed a writing system similar to hieroglyphics. The glyphs are phonetic and symbolic. What we know about the Maya comes from pictographs written on stelae. Each picture represents a sound; the sounds are combined to make words.

Mayan History The Mayans thrived for over 2000 years. As their civilization grew they built massive temples and developed a class system (ruling class, nobles, peasants, and slaves).

Mayan Religion They worshipped more than 160 gods and goddesses. They believed the gods created the world. To get help from the gods the Mayans fasted, prayed, and performed animal and human sacrifices.

Mayan History The Mayans reached the peak of their society between 300-900 AD. This was known as the classical period. Their greatest king was Pacal II. He built the cities to have palaces, plazas, ball courts, and pyramids with temples on the top.

Pacal II of Palenque Pacal’s mother, Lady Zac-Kuk, ruled Palenque as a queen. Pacal declared that she was the living image of the First Mother. The First Mother was the goddess who created the Mayans. This allowed him to declare that as he was the son of a goddess, he had the right to become king.

The Mayan History Beginning in the 800’s the Maya began to disappear. They abandoned their cities and population declined. The reason this happened is a mystery. Historians believe it was because of food shortages, famine, or warfare.

Mayan Achievements Calendar

Mayan Calendar The Maya used three different dating systems. 1. Long Count Calendar 2. Civil year Calendar Called "Haab" 3. Sacred or Divine year Calendar Called "Tzolkin

Pok-a-tok sacred ball game of the Maya. Using only head, knees and elbows get a rubber ball through a hoop thirty feet off the ground. Winners win great prizes. Losers are sacrificed.

Mayan Achievements writing

Mayan Writing System The Mayan developed a system of writing using glyphs were recording important events in carvings and books. They carved these glyphs on buildings and wrote them on bark paper. The paper was made from fig tree bark and formed into a book called a codex. These books were illustrated with pictures. The most famous codex was called Popol Voh. It told the story of their creation.

Mayan Achievements Numerical System

Numerical System The Mayan number system dates back to the fourth century and was approximately 1,000 years more advanced than the Europeans of that time. Mayan's used a numerical system which had a base 20. This system is believed to have been used because, since the Mayan's lived in such a warm climate there was rarely a need to wear shoes, 20 was the total number of fingers and toes, thus making the system workable.

Numerical System The numbers are made up of three symbols; zero(shell shape), one (a dot) and five (a bar). The numerals are made up of three symbols.  Discovered the number 0.

Monumental Structures Mayan Achievements Monumental Structures

Mayan Achievements Astronomy

Mayan Astronomy The Mayans observed the position of the sun, moon, and stars. They discovered the planets Venus and Mars. They calculated the cycle of planets and were able to predict solar eclipses.

Mayan Prophecies 1064 December 21, 2012

The End