The Maya

The Development of Mayan Civilization Mayan civilization lasted from 2000 B.C.E. to 1500 C.E. It reached its height between 300 and 900 C.E. Mayan culture spread over much of Mesoamerica

The Olmec The Maya built their civilization on ideas they inherited from the Olmec. Olmec civilization reached its peak between 1200 and 500 B.C.E.

Olmec Achievements Farming allowed Mesoamericans to create permanent settlements by 2000 B.C.E. The Olmec were the first Mesoamericans to develop large religious and ceremonial centers, and were the first to use a solar calendar.

The Pre-Classic Period of Mayan Civilization Lasted from 2000 B.C.E to 300 C.E. Mayan culture gradually becomes much more complex.

Hieroglyphic Writing About 50 B.C.E. they began to adapt the writing system of the Olmec and develop their own system of hieroglyphic writing.

The Classic Period of Mayan Civilization Dates from around 300 to 900 C.E. Maya adapted and developed Olmec ideas. Maya built enormous stone cities with temple-pyramids and palaces (without metal tools and the wheel).

The Classic Period: Science and Math Maya built observatories and used their knowledge of astronomy and mathematics to create accurate calendars

The Classic Period Society Mayan society consisted of many independent states that were often at war. The Maya were unified by culture; they were not politically unified. culture defines who a person is, where they come from [in some cases], what they eat, what they wear, what they believe in.

Classic Period Cities At its height, the Mayan civilization included over 40 cities, including Tikal, Chichen Itza, and Palenque. Around 900 the Classic civilization collapsed.

Maya Post-Classic Period On the Yucatan Peninsula, Mayan cities continued to prosper during the Post-Classic Period. This period lasted from 900 to 1500 C.E.

Maya Post-Classic Period Decline Maya continued their warring but had fewer great artistic and cultural achievements.

Social Pyramid

Priest Kings The Ruler Halach uinic or “true man” Decided when and where to go to war

Nobles and Priests Nobles and Priests Only literate class Nobles organized important projects and led army Priests led rituals and performed sacrifices

Merchants and Artisans Traveled over much of Mesoamerica trading such goods as obsidian, jade, copal, quetzal feathers Artisans Painted murals Were skilled weavers and potters

Peasants Peasants Men were mostly farmers Women worked at preparing food, weaving, and sewing Peasants built temples and served as soldiers

Slaves Slaves Performed manual labor for their owners Slave population was made up of criminals, prisoners of war, and family members sold into slavery Slaves were often sacrificed when their owner died

Offerings and Sacrifices The Maya made offerings of plants, food, flowers, feathers, jade, and shells Animals and humans were sacrificed In Chichen Itza, humans were sacrificed by being thrown into a sacred well (cenote).

Mayan Gods The Maya believed in more than 160 gods Primary gods were the god of rain, the god of corn, and the god of death The jaguar was an important animal in the Mayan religion.

Pok-a-tok A ball game played by two teams of nobles Players tried to hit a rubber ball through a stone hoop using their elbows, wrists, and hips Members of the losing team may have been sacrificed

The Sacred Round The Maya’s knowledge of astronomy and math allowed them to develop a complex calendar system The Sacred Round was made up of two cycles. One cycle was made up of the numbers 1 to 13, the other had 20 day names. The Sacred Round was used to determine the best days to plant, battle, perform religious ceremonies, etc…

Terrace Farming Crops: maize (corn), beans, squash, chili peppers In the mountainous highlands, the Maya used a system of terraces to create more flat land on which to farm

Lowland Farming In the swampy lowlands, the Maya used raised earth platforms surrounded by drainage canals

Slash-and-Burn Farming In the densely forested lowlands, the Maya used slash-and-burn farming to clear land for farming

Theories for Decline of the Mayan Civilization The population of Mayan cities grew faster than their farming systems could sustain There was uncontrolled warfare Mayan city-states were invaded by groups from central Mexico (Aztecs eventually become dominate Mesoamerican culture) Drought may have caused massive crop failure

Destruction of the ecosystem to make lime for the pyramids is a recent theory.