1. The Maya Chapter 23 Notes Video -- Maya Pyramids of Chichen Itza -- National Geographic

2. The Development of Mayan Civilization  “Mesoamerica”- what is it?  Landscape: rainforests, grasslands, swamps, thick jungles

3. Origins  Took ideas from the Olmec (1200-500 BCE)  Olmec:  Est. farming villages  Created trade routes  First to use a sun calendar  YouTube - Legends of the Hidden Temple - The Leopard-Skin Cloak of Annie Oakley (full episode, part 3) YouTube - Legends of the Hidden Temple - The Leopard-Skin Cloak of Annie Oakley (full episode, part 3)

4. Pre-Classic ( 2,000 BCE-300 CE )  Simple houses & compounds  Public buildings for Govt. & Religion  Hieroglyphic writing

5. Classic (300 CE-900 CE) & Post-Classic (900 CE- 1500 CE)  Independent States- (40 cities!)  Observatories /temples/pyramids/palaces  Astronomy & Math-  Northern cities prosper- (Yucatan Peninsula)- others disappear? Why?

6. Class Structure  Social Pyramid- layers represent social classes of different rank or status  The Ruler-(halach uinic- “true man”)–God King  Nobles & Priests-  Only people who knew how to read or write  PRIESTS-rituals, sacrifices, future  Merchants & Artisans- sea, river, road trade routes  Peasants- backbone of Mayan Society  Slaves-  Born into slavery & sometimes sold  Criminals/War Prisoner’s

7. Family Life  Roles  Men- work in the fields/ hunted & trapped animals/built buildings (temples, palaces)/ soldiers  Women- cooking, cleaning, childcare, sewing  Coming of Age Ceremony- 12(F) 14(M)-  Confessions, cleansing, reciting

8. Marriage Customs  Girls-14  Men- 20  Negotiated by village atanzahab (matchmaker)  Specific Criteria negotiated  Hut built behind bride’s parents

9. Beliefs & Rituals  Polytheistic- 160+ Gods  God of Rain, God of Corn, God of Death  Only Priest’s could read signs/perform rituals  Offerings: plants, food, jade, shells, animals, humans  Chichen Itza- sacred well YouTube - Xcaret - Pok-ta-Pok - Mayan ball game

10. Sacred Calendar  2 calendars  Daily- based on sun  18 months of 20 days + 5 unlucky days= 365 days total  sacred/ritual- tzolkin or Sacred Round  13 months of 20 days= 260 days total  2 cycles:  Numbers 1-13  20 day names representing Gods  Plant, hunt, cure, do battle  Video -- Maya Doomsday Prophecy -- National Geographic Video -- Maya Doomsday Prophecy -- National Geographic

11. Challenges Facing Mayan Farmer’s  Maize, beans, squash, chili peppers  Difficult -> dense forests, little H2O, poor soil  Mountains VS lowlands  Slash & Burn- ?  Drained swamps, cleared hillsides

12. End of Classic Period  900 CE, Maya had abandoned the jungles--- why????  Theories:  Populations grow faster than farming could sustain  Drought, dry weather  Uncontrolled warfare  Invaders from central Mexico  2 million Maya still remain in Chiapas

13. End of Classic Period  Theories:  Populations grow faster than farming could sustain  Drought, dry weather  Uncontrolled warfare  Invaders from central Mexico  2 million Maya still remain in Chiapas