The Maya

Before the Maya

Ancient people traveled

from Asia to the Americas
around 12,000 b.c.

Eventually people traveled

down the continent to
Mesoamerica.
A region that includes the
southern part of what is now
Mexico and parts of the
northern countries of
Central America.
Before the Maya

Mesoamerica has excellent

soil for farming.

Settlers soon started

farming.

Grew:
Maize=corn
Beans
Squash

Farming led to trade and

growth of cities.
 Before the Maya: The Olmec
1st Civilization in the Americas:
The Olmec.

Arrived around 12,000 b.c.

Ended around 400 b.c.

Lived in small villages and later

towns and cities.

Built 1st pyramids in the Americas.

Large trading network, complex

religion, writing system.

Historians believe the Maya built on

the Olmecs achievements.
The Maya

Lived in Mesoamerica.
Yucatan Peninsula

Area had thick rainforests

that they Maya cleared so
they could farm.

Large trading network:

Obsidian: sharp glasslike
volcanic rock.
Cacao
Cotton
Jade
 Maya Classic Age

250 AD-900 AD

40 cities of 5,000 to 50,000

people each.

Traded with each other.

People in mountains mined
obsidian and Jade.
Traded with people in the
valleys who grew cacao and
other foods.
Mayan Cities

Maya built many grand

cities with pyramids and
temples.

Built canals to move water

through the cities.

Each city was a city-state.

Ruled by a king.
Traded with other cities.
Also fought and competed
with other cities.
 Mayan cities

Great builders and

architects.

Built without metal tools.

Maya had no wheeled carts.

Used logs to roll the blocks.

Used obsidian to cut

limestone rocks to build the
pyramids and other
buildings.
 Mayan Soccer?

Played in an arena.

Used feet, body and head to

knock ball through hoop
mid way up the wall.

Played by 2 teams.

Losing team sometimes

sacrificed.

Some think the ball was a

human head.
Warfare

Cities often fought each

other for power and land.

Fought hand to hand with

spears, knives, and clubs

Captured prisoners often

sacrificed to the gods.

Warfare often destroyed the

farmland and crops.
Many think it is one of the
reasons the Maya
civilization ended.
 Class Structure
King-held top position.
Believed to be related to the gods.

Priests, warriors, merchants: upper

middle class.
Controlled politics, religion, and
economy of cities.

Farmers: lower class.

Most of the people were farmers.
Had to pay their rulers with food
and goods, and work to build the
cities.

Slaves: lowest position:

Often captured prisoners from other
cities. Worked as servants or farmers.
Religion

Maya worshipped many different

gods.

Mayas believed that gods could

be helpful or harmful and that
gods needed blood to prevent
disasters or the end of the world.

Every Maya offered a blood

offering by piercing their tongue
or body.

On special occasions they made

human sacrifices by cutting out
people hearts and offering them
to the gods.
 Science & Math

Maya built observatories:

Buildings to study astronomy.

Maya astronomers:
Figured out that a year is 365
days long
Learned cycles of moon.
Learned how to predict
eclipses.

Math:
One of 1st peoples to use
number 0 in their math.
Maya numbers
Maya Calendars
Writing System

Maya writing system used

hieroglyphics.

Wrote down their histories

on large stone tablets and in
books.

Famous book: Popol Vuh.

Records stories of Maya
legends and history.
Historians use it to learn
about the Maya.
 Fall of the Maya

Possible causes:
Warfare between cities
Not enough food to feed
everyone.
To many demands by the
kings made people leave the
cities.
Drought-Mayas had a 150
year drought that destroyed
their crops.