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Grade 5 Social Studies

The Maya: Society and Culture
Lesson 31

HISTORY
Around 1000 BCE, the Maya lived in small villages and gathered food from the
forest. They also grew squash, corn, beans, avocados, and chili peppers. Larger
Mayan settlements began to appear around 600 BCE, and by about 250 CE, the
Maya formed several city-states that contained temple pyramids, houses, palaces,
terraces, and public squares. In the fields, farmers grew corn, fruits, vegetables,
cotton, and cocoa. The Mayan civilization accomplished its greatest
achievements between 300 and 925 CE.
GOVERNMENT
Early Mayan settlements were small, and people made decisions through discussion. As
communities grew into city-states with large populations, there was a need for greater leadership.
By about 300 CE, each city state was ruled by a halach uinic. He was both the religious and
government leader of the community. The halach uinic had absolute power and was born into his
position. The Council of State advised the halach uinic on important decisions. The halach
uinic selected the members of the Council of State, and often they were his relatives.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Because he was the government and religious leader of a city-state, the halach uinic was considered
the most important person in Mayan society. He, along with the nobles who advised him, held
most of the community's wealth and power. The nobles controlled government, warfare, and trading.
Priests were also respected members of society because they performed religious ceremonies and
educated young males of the nobility. The common people included craftspeople and traders,
but the majority were farmers who lived outside the city-state close to their fields. Slaves either were
born into their position or were criminals or prisoners of war. Their chores included doing heavy
construction work and transporting goods for trade.
FAMILY LIFE
Entire Mayan families-children, parents, and grandparents-lived together and contributed to the
household chores. The common people worked long days to take advantage of the cooler mornings
and evenings. After the morning meal, most men went to tend their crops. Women cooked over fires
in a three-sided fireplace, which is still used in some areas of Central America today. They used a
grinding stone and a hollowed-out stone table to crush softened corn into a paste. This paste could be
cooked into a flat bread called a tortilla.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Gods and Goddesses
Religion was extremely important to the Maya. Their cities, artwork, wars, games, science,
measurement of time, and mathematics were all related to their religious beliefs and rituals. The
Maya were polytheistic, which means they worshipped many gods and goddesses.
To honour their gods, the Maya held festivals at different times throughout the year. During these
festivals, everyone would come to the city-state to say prayers and perform chants and dances
for the god or goddess they were honouring. Animals, such as jaguars, turtles, and turkeys, were
sacrificed. During natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, humans were
sacrificed to make the angry gods happy. The Maya performed sacrifices and other religious
ceremonies in their temples, which they built at the top of stone pyramids.
Afterlife
The Maya believed that there was a heaven and an underworld. When they died, important rulers
were buried underneath the city pyramids. They were buried with food, weapons, clothing, jewellery,
and servants to serve their needs in the afterlife. Common people were buried below the floor of the
family home along with food, drink, and personal items to be used in the afterlife. The family home
was then abandoned, and a new one was built somewhere else.
Grade 5 Social Studies

Lesson 31 Questions

1. Divide the triangle into 5 sections. Fill in the following titles to show the social structure
of the Mayan Society. Place the titles from most to least important.
a. slaves
b. halach uinic
c. traders, craftspeople, farmers
d. nobles
e. priests

2. Who and what was the role of the halach uinic?

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3. How did the Mayans honour their gods?

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4. How were the beliefs and practices of the ancient Maya regarding the afterlife similar to
those of the ancient Egyptians?

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