Warm Up 2/6 Paraphrase two pieces of evidence from your reading that show the Mayans were a highly developed civilization.

February 6, 2018 Learning Target (I can…): Take Out: Mayan Civilization reading (stamp) Agenda: Mayans!! Skills: Note taking (without writing everything) Learning Target (I can…): Describe the culture, structure, and decline of the Mayan civilization Upcoming Dates 2/7: Aztec Reading Notes 2/9: Incas Reading Notes 2/9: Latin America Map

Where were they?

City-States! (think ancient Greece) Mayan Structure City-States! (think ancient Greece) Individual cities with a king as ruler (usually seen as a god) over city and surrounding area City-states linked through trade and war alliances Agriculture!! Provided basic necessities as well as trade goods Skilled craftsman also created items for trade

Tikal

Chichen Itza

Featured pyramids dedicated to gods that often doubled as tombs Mayan Structure Major urban centers Featured pyramids dedicated to gods that often doubled as tombs Each city also featured a ball court or many courts Mayan civilization previously estimated at about 5 million people…until now…. http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/laser-scans-reveal-maya-megalopolis-below- guatemalan-jungle.aspx

Mesoamerica ball game Earliest found in Olmec city Mayan Structure Mesoamerica ball game Earliest found in Olmec city Played by hitting ball through hoops without hands Loser (we think) was sacrificed Game had religious significance https://youtu.be/IjOYxBrUOuw https://youtu.be/amdMmW9X7XM

Mayan Religion Many gods Focused on life essentials (rain, sun, moon, death, war, corn) Offerings of goods or blood Human sacrifice to the harsher gods to keep the world in balance

Math and calendars Days and years had connections to gods Mayan Advancements Math and calendars Days and years had connections to gods Super accurate calendar based on astronomical (stars, etc) observations .0002 of a day short of today’s figures Used calendars (religious and solar) to identify best times for farming, war, and new rulers

Most advanced writing system in the ancient Americas Mayan Advancements Most advanced writing system in the ancient Americas Hieroglyphic type symbols (glyphs) Stone or codex (bark-paper book)

Dresden Codex

Civilization abruptly declines and disappears Possible factors Mayan Decline Civilization abruptly declines and disappears Possible factors War between city-states Invaders from the North (Toltecs) Overpopulation and over-farming Food shortage, famine, disease