Over the course of the Mayan’s reign as a powerful civilization, many outside forces often threatened to change or destroy their culture and belief system. One common practice involved the destruction of books and cultural artifacts. If one item, book, document, etc. could be damaged or destroyed today that would forever alter the history, memory, of foundation of our culture today… what would it be and why? Be sure to explain your answer. If you don’t believe this could happen, be sure to explain as well.

Think back to the calendar you began creating last class. What THREE events did you predict for the future? Why do you think these things will happen? Why will they be important? Be ready to share!

 To keep track of the energies of the day,  To calculate birth energies of different individuals,  To determine the celebration of holidays,  To explain healing practices,  For prophecy, and  For divination of individuals’ destinies.

 It was connected to astronomy  It consisted of 365 days/eighteen months  No Mayan took a trip, planted a crop, or got married on an unlucky day  There were five unlucky days

The Mayan calendar is divided into Seven Ages of Man. The Mayan calendar comes to an end on Sunday, December 23, There are many theories to the Mayan Calendar but no one knows for sure how to interpret it. Some believe the calendar is only symbolic and focuses on mankind’s spirituality. Some believe it prophesies changes in common traditions, major astrological events, or connectedness with god. Some actually fear a major catastrophic event.

The Maya Developed Three Separate Calendars: 1. The Ritual Calendar of 260 days 2. The Civil (Scientific) Calendar of 365 days [The two were side by side and when they matched up, a sacred year would begin.] 3. And the Long Count - The Long Count will end on 2012 –to the Maya it meant the end of civilization and the beginning of a new one.

Pre-write and Calendar are due at the end of class!