1. Cultural, Religious, Artistic, Economic, and Social Spheres
Maya and Teotihuacan
Cultural, Religious, Artistic, Economic, and Social Spheres

2. Introduction

3. Culture and Religion

4. Religion Priest kings Site of Creation, Popul Vuh.
Strong concept of dualism
Polytheism and Paganism
El Mirador pyramid temple, Popul Vuh
Comparison To Eurasian Civilizations:
Connection to Greek and Roman paganism.
Connection to Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian, strong bond between Religion and agriculture.
Asian Religions

5. Traditions Calendar increase in competitiveness between city states
Culture of Teotihuacan
Sacrificial victims
Ritual Ball game
Carvings and writings
50 city states flourished, use of stone tools
Ball Game
Stone Carving

6. Astronomy and Mathematics
Developed by Intellectuals and Priests
Combination of Mathematics and astronomy
Vigesimal system
Important concepts
Numeral System

7. Language Developed an Elaborate writing system
Pictographic and syllabic
History, Religion and Astronomy
287 symbols
Mayan alphabet

8. Art in 2nd wave Mesoamerican Societies

9. Mayan Architecture El Mirador Engineered Landscape Frieze Terraces
Flattened ridges
Drained swamps
Water management
 Agriculture

10. Sculpture
Royal family
Head attire
Rituals
Warfare

11. Painting Murals Sophisticated Maya Blue Folding books
Dresden Codex
Showed cultural items

12. Teotihuacán Architecture
North / South boulevard
Street of the Dead
Temples, houses of the elite
Pyramids of Sun and Moon
Specialist workers

13. Art
Few scenes of Rulers
Murals
Gods
Decorative building

14. Interactive Activity
Identify the scene depicted in the following 3 Mayan art pieces
Find the religious significance

15. Interactive Activity
The Ball Game. Popular Sport played in the Maya Empire. Religious: losers were often sacrificed.

16. Interactive Activity
Blood Letting. The King’s wife lacerated her throat with thorns, while the King holds a torch above her head.

17. Interactive Activity Identify the Scene
The Presentation of the Captives. Prisoners of War were shown to the King, some of which were selected to be sacrificed.
Identify the Scene

18. Social and Economic Distinctions

19. Mayan Social Hierarchy
Rulers
Elite
Scribes, Priests, Artisans
Peasants, Merchants

20. Maya Urban centers Patrilineal families
Gender roles dictated by religion and custom
Elite women maintain rights
Commoner Women: domestic duties, food, cloth
Competing city states  Mesopotamia, Greece
Labor supporting elite

21. Teotihuacan Trades and Ethnic Groups Residential apartment compounds
Foreigners
Peace

22. Economy
Lack of fruitful interaction vs. Egypt and Mesopotamia, Persia and Greece
Maya:
Flourishing Agriculture
Luxury goods
Teotihuacan:
Pottery, obsidian
Conquer Maya territory for commodities (cacao beans, feather, herbs, etc.)

23. Conclusion