Maize Maize was a very important crop, and formed up to 80% of their diet. To plant the maize, holes would be made in the soil with a sharp bladed, wooden digging stick called a dibble. The soil was very dry and if the May rains didn’t come, a whole year’s crop would be lost. For thousands of years, the Maya worshipped the maize god. They believed that the first humans were made by the gods from maize dough! Because of this, when suffering from severe illness, they would eat nothing but corn. Maya farmers would plant maize wherever they could. Maize is more commonly known as corn.

The Maya word for chocolate is Kakaw. Chocaholics! Cacao trees sprout cacao pods directly from their trunks. The pods are then opened to reveal the cacao beans inside. The Maya were using these beans to make a chocolatey drink from as far back as the fourth century AD. However, it was not the sweet, chocolately flavour we crave today, but a more bitter tasting version, often laced with chilli or vanilla and other spices. The drink was enjoyed by the rich and noble members of society, and the cacao beans were highly valued. They were even used as a form of currency later on in Maya history. The Maya word for chocolate is Kakaw. The Maya used chocolate in religious ceremonies, and they also mixed them with herbs to make medicines.

Sacrifices The Maya believed in blood sacrifice. Blood letting was common. At some festivals, the Maya would cut themselves so they would bleed. This was one way they offered blood to the gods to keep their gods happy. Sometimes, they sacrificed animals, especially goats. On occasion, when the need was great and their problems were many, they also used human sacrifice.

When they had to sacrifice a person or an animal, the priests first painted them blue. That was the sacrifice colour of the ancient Mayas. One way a human sacrifice was conducted was to throw the victim down a well. If they were still alive by morning, obviously the gods wanted that person to live. But some people were not given a chance to survive. They were simply killed.

Most human victims of sacrifice were slaves. But anyone could be chosen. The selection of what or who would be sacrificed was up to the priests. Their decision was final. That gave the priests incredible power.

the King’s family/ other leaders farmers slaves 9

Priests The priests along with the leader in each city state, were the most powerful people in the Maya civilization. The Maya believed that the priests could talk to the Gods The priests decide when to plant crops, when to marry and to whom. Before doing pretty much anything the Mayas would have to ask the priest for permission.

The Underworld The Mayas believed in the underworld, the place of Awe. The priests held ceremonies to keep demons and spooky creatures locked inside the underworld where they belonged During these ceremonies the priest wore masks and jaguar costumes. They wanted to look as scary as the magical creatures of the underworld

The Legend of Mirrors The Mayans believed that one could communicate with the gods by looking into a mirror Legend says.. warriors going into battle wore mirrors on the backs. The idea was that if an enemy tried to sneak up on a Maya warrior, a demon might reach out from the underworld and snatch the enemy

Photocourtesy of drumminhands (@flickr Photocourtesy of drumminhands (@flickr.com) - granted undercreative commons licence - attribution 15

= 0 = 1 = 5 16

Mathematics Had a system based on 20 Recognized the zero (unlike the Romans for instance) One two three four five six eight nine ten nineteen twenty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2sUCcaPkAE