Maya Kings and Cities Alejandra Alvarez, Arely Avila, Ivanna Colon Jonathan Gomez, Edwin Paz

Bell Ringer What do you already know about the Maya Civilization?

1. What was the basis of maya life? 2.Why was the calendar important for the maya life? 3.Why was trade important to the maya civilization? 4.How important do you think the development of advanced mathematics was in the creation of the maya calendar? 5.Which of the causes for the fall of the maya do you think was more important ?explain. 6.What three explanations have been given for the collapse of the maya civilization? Class Activity

The homeland of the Maya stretched from Southern Mexico into the Northern Central America. By 250 A.D, Maya culture had burst forth in a flourishing civilization. Maya built spectacular cities such as Tikal, a major center in northern Guatemala. Maya Create City-States

Maya Cites featured giant pyramids, temples, palaces, and elaborate stones carvings dedicated to the gods and important rulers. They believed playing on a featured ball court would maintain the cycles of the sun and moon, bringing life-giving rains. They exchanged their local products such as salt, flint, feathers, shells, and honey. When the Maya king had died, he passed the throne on to his eldest son. Maya Create City-States

The Mayans believed that each day was a living god whose behavior could be predicted with the help of a system of calendars. They believed in many gods. Gods of good and evil. They worshiped in various ways. Their religious beliefs also lead to the development of the calendar, mathematics, and astronomy. Maya's based their calendars on careful observations of the Religion Shapes Maya Life planets, sun, and moon. They used the numerical system primarily for calendar and astronomical work. The Mayans also created the most advanced writing systems in ancient Americas.

The Maya's history ended in a mystery. Around the late 800's the Mayas seemed to have abandoned most of their cities. However, the Toltec took over their land and changed the culture. Nobody is sure why this happened. Experts think it could have been caused by warfare, disrupted trade and produced economic hardships, food shortages, famine, diseases. Mysterious Maya Decline

Mayans also had developed a writing system.The Mayan alphabet (shown below) More about Mayans.. They Mayans were very constructive. they built many towers and structures. (shown above)

Write one paragraph on what you learned on the Maya civilization. Turn in by the end of class. Now...