The Maya

Development of Mayan Civilization Reached it’s height between 300 and 900 CE Mesoamerica: southern Mexico, Belize, most of Guatemala, parts of Honduras and El Salvador South: Mountain highlands Lowlands: Northern and central regions: rainforests, grasslands, swamps, thick jungle- Peten

Origins Inherited ideas from Olmec: BC Civilization based on agriculture: Maize (corn) Created farming villages and trade routes Built huge capital city First Mesoamericans to develop large religious and ceremonial centers First to use solar (sun) calendar

Pre-Classic period 2000 BC-300 CE Mayans lived simply Population began to grow and settlements grew Government and religious buildings built Developed own system of hieroglyphic writing

Classic Period CE: Peak of Mayans Improved Olmec building techniques Built enormous stone cities with temples and pyramids Built observatories (observe stars, moon, sun) Empire consisted of many independent city states with their own cities Major Cities: Tikal, Copan, Chichen Itza, Palenque

Post Classical Period 900 CE Classical civilization collapsed South-Mayans abandoned cities and fell to ruin North- Cities still prospered-continued building empire but had fewer artistic and cultural achievements

Family Life: Duties of family Members Women: Woke up early to cook: tortillas, tamales, corn Cared for children and animals Gathered, spun, and wove cotton into cloth

Men Worked the fields Hunted and trapped animals Constructed palaces and temples Served as soldiers

Special Occasions First ceremony right after birth: Priest forecast baby’s future Second ceremony to introduce the tools they would use in life Girls-3 months old: Boys-4 months old Coming of age ceremony: confessions, cleansing, and reciting rules Girls: 12 years old-removed string of red shells from their waist Boys: 14 years old-cut white bead from hair

Marriage Customs Girls 14 and Men 20 Marriages negotiated by atanzahab (matchmaker) Families had to negotiate terms of marriage Villagers built a hut for the couple behind the bride’s parents Couple put on wedding outfit, priest blessed the home and village celebrated

Religious Beliefs and Practices Religion very important: built huge temple- pyramids and religious centers Polytheistic: believed in many gods Primary gods were forces of nature and had animal characteristics Gods created the world and could destroy it Important to honor gods

Only priests could read signs and lead rituals to honor Gods Honored Gods with offerings: plants, feathers, jade, flowers, etc Sacrificed animals and some humans: blood gave the God’s strength

Pok-a-tok Mayan Ball game Hit solid rubber ball through stone ring by using elbows, wrists, and hips-no hands or feet Sometimes losing team was sacrificed Religious, political, and entertainment purpose and meaning

Daily calendar Based on solar year 18 months of 20 days plus 5 “unlucky days” 365 days

Sacred Calendar Tzolkin: Sacred Round 13 months of 20 days: 260 days Small circle: numbers 1-13 Big circle: 20 day names-The glyphs (symbols) for each day gave priests clues about whether certain days were good or bad for certain events.

Only priests could read the hidden meaning Used the calendar to determine best days for events Calendar system shows Mayas were highly advanced civilization