1. Trek Through Time Journey to the Mayan World

2. Over 1500 years ago a mysterious and brilliant people lived in the deep rainforests of Mexico, Guatemala and Hondurus.

3. The Mayan Empire Mayan Empire = 300-900 AD

5. Tikal ► City-state governed by kings ► One of largest Mayan cities ► Many giant temples and other buildings including royal residences, offices, markets, etc. ► Located North Central Guatemala ► Had possibly 100,000 citizens Temple II—30 meters high

6. Gran Plaza Temple Ruins

7. Temple I where archeologists discovered the tomb of one of Tikal’s kings, Lord Cacao.

8. Temple V—58 meters high!

10. Tikal hidden in the Guatemalan rainforest.

11. Copan ► Ceremonial Center of a rich agricultural area ► Fantastic art, buildings, and stelae ► Like Tikal— independent city-state with own line of kings ► Located along Copan River in low, tropical valley of now Honduras

12. Stelae of King 18 Rabbit Copan’s Great Plaza Copan’s Great Plaza ► Pathway includes huge, intricately carved stelae portraying the rulers of Copan ► Date from 613 to 738 during the reign of King Smoke Imix and King 18 Rabbit ► Stelae=stone monument

13. Mayan writing consists of block like hieroglyphs, or symbols, with individual glyphs gathered together. Sometimes they are images of animals, plants, or other objects and sometimes they are just symbols. Often the inscriptions tell stories about kings and their achievements and often tell dates which helps archeologists know when Mayans lived.

16. Famous Ball Court—used for sport and religious rite

17. Mayan People Today

18. Current population is estimated at 6 million Mayans still preserving their way of life best they can.