1. The Maya
1st Period

2. Basic Information
The Mayan Civilization was in existence from 1800 BCE to 250 CE
They were advanced for their time, doing things like: building architecturally advanced structures, creating accurate star charts, creating working economies,
They were a polytheistic religion with many rituals and practices
The Maya were also very violent in terms of politics, each city having its own dialect and system causing cities to war frequently over trade and dominance
Remnants of the Jaguar Temple in the Mayan city of Tikal

3. The Pyramid of the Mayan Class system
Class Systems
Rigidly divided between nobles, commoners, serfs, and slaves.
Commoners worked as farmers, laborers, and servants.
Commoners became wealthy through merchant and artisan work
Lived in outskirts
Banned from wearing expensive clothes/symbols of nobility
Active slave trade
People became slaves as a form of punishment (debts)
The Pyramid of the Mayan Class system

4. Class Systems Unwanted orphans became slaves Nobles
Rulers, gov. officials, tax collectors, military leaders, high priests, cacao plantation managers, and trade expedition leaders.
Mayan Ruler

5. Political Organization
Trials were held for criminals
Attorneys and judges were present
Aristocracy
Ruled by higher up nobles ie. priests and the wealthy
Punishments
Severe punishments
Crimes tattooed on their face, or executed
Jaina Island figurine representing a Classic period warrior

6. Technological, Artistic Innovations, and Contributions
They created their own accurate calendar
A 260 day religious calendar and a 365 day secular calendar in one
The calendars have 52 year intervals, after a single interval the calendars reset like clocks
Although vulcanization was thought to be discovered by Charles Goodyear in the 1800s, historians have evidence for this being a tool for the Maya through craftsmanship
Their charts of the stars, and some of the math they used are still relevant in today’s society
A lot of art was attributed to the gods and their prosperity
The Mayan Calendar

7. Religion and Religious Developments
Belief in k’uh (sacredness)
There are 7 books and several texts on the story of creation
The Earth was created by Huracán, but Earth and sky were connected, so no vegetation could grow
Life was born out of a tree
Plants and animals came first, then humans
Three types of Mayan ppl; mud mindless, wood soulless, maize too wise
Mayan god Huracán who created the Earth

8. Religion and Religious Developments
Gods have several different personalities, combo of god and animal
It was very rare for hostages to be sacrificed
Bloodletting was used in the royal line to compensate for godly blood
Would perform purification rituals for preparation; piercings
Humans would be sacrificed for life-altering events
Were decapitated, had their heart removed, or were thrown into a natural well (cenote) alive
Children were placed in cenotes to talk to the gods
Marriages were arranged at an early age
Dance rituals were performed while wearing ornamental garb
Mayan dance ritual being performed in Mexico

9. Crops similar to Mayan agriculture
Economic Setup
Based on agriculture and trade
Slash-and-burn farming in some areas
Intensively farming raised plots surrounded by canals
Farmers brought surplus crops to the open-air markets of major cities very often
Items were traded
Also participated in long-distance trade throughout Mexico and Central America
Transported by canoes on rivers and coastal waterways
On land, transported by humans
Crops similar to Mayan agriculture
They did not know about wheeled vehicles or beasts of burden to carry the goods which is why humans carried the goods by foot.

10. Economic Setup
Society was divided into commoners, craftsmen, and the nobility
Commoners (low class) - only worked on agriculture
Craftsmen (wealthy class) - produced more prestigious items : pottery, jewelry, sculptures, art
Nobility (royal class) - overlooked commoners and craftsmen and decided how to utilize the goods
Some goods were used locally and others were traded
Cocoa = currency
Mayan Pottery
Cocoa Beans

11. Job Specialization Rulers: Held supreme power but could be overthrown
Kept a large, powerful military
Had to create religious temples to please the gods
Provide enough food for the people → security
Nobility:
Allied with royalty and priests
Members were chosen by the ruler to hold administrative positions in the government
Make decisions in local towns
Policemen/Leaders of military
Mayan Temple

12. Mayan Written Language
Job Specialization
Priests:
Closely allied with royalty and nobility
Consulted by the ruler in most important matters
Conduct religious rituals and overlook religious ceremonies
Ensure that religion was the most important aspect of Mayan society
Develop sciences
Astronomy
Mathematics
Medicine
Written language
Teach knowledge to children of the nobility
Mayan Written Language

13. Job Specialization Craftsmen: Produced various items
Objects made with obsidian and jade
Ceramics
Sculptures
Different types of art
Overlooked by nobility
Commoners:
Very important to society, but looked down upon/not appreciated
Provided food for whole society
Farmers had to come up with innovative ways to keep their crops alive
Mayan Art

14. Works Cited
“Aztec and Maya Law.” Texas Law, Texas Law, 7 Aug. 2018, 9:58AM.
Stuart, Gene S. Lost Kingdoms of the Maya. Washington, D.C., 1993.
Gomez, Maria C. “Maya Religion.”
“Mayan Economy.” Mayan Economy, Mayans and Tikal,
Staff, History.com. “Mayan Scientific Achievements.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2010,
Farah, Mounir, and Andrea Berens Karls.