1. 6Y Wednesday
Objective: Describe complex urban societies that existed in Mesoamerica before the 1500s. Agenda: 1. Do Now: Look at the picture from yesterday. Describe at least 5 things we can tell about the civilization that created it based on what you see. Make sure to support your answer. 2. Discuss Do Now 3. Notes on Mayans 4. Homework: What do we know about the Mayans as a civilization? (A+ answer) 5. Exit Ticket

2. Clues from the Evidence
Conclusions about the society based on the clues.
Buildings look like Pyramids – bgknowledge: Egyptians used pyramids as burial places for important people
Maybe they buried important people in these pyramids
There are lots of trees in the picture
Rich in wood resources
Big buildings, well designed and visually appealing – Geometry and symmetry
High society – wealthy and smart
Advanced architecturally
Pyramids (bg knowledge – used for worship)
They have some sort of religion?
Buildings made out of stone, but no stone around
They mined stone nearby. Maybe they brought the stone over – they have inventions to make carrying heavy things easy. They were a large society with many people – it takes a lot of people to build this. They could have traded the stone.
Have a lot of buildings, large buildings
They were a large society
They are in the woods
They moved from somewhere. Looking for seclusion or safety?
Woods
Got a lot of resources from the woods
One pyramid is taller than the rest?
Indicates Hierarchy (having people as more important than others. The order of importance or wealth)
Pyramids are close together
Adds to their security. Urban (city – populated)
Close to the woods. Animals
They probably have a lot of food, bow and arrows?
To have a lot of wealth you need a lot of resources – farmed – good control of food to support a big population.
Permanent structures
They must have been a farming community.
Water source?
Natural or man made – irrigation – they relied on water
Sophisticated buildings
Government needed to be well-organized. Strong government
Organized society
Big clearing
Must have cleared the area  organized labor, innovations to clear land, worked together
Buildings are close together
Large buildings – can hold many people, can store food,
One of the buildings looks like the Coliseum – where people gathered to watch entertainment or listen to their leaders – this must have been a place of gathering
Community
A lot of stairs going up
They must have been athletic or physically fit. Elevation meant something significant – rising to the sky? –? –-

3. Mayans

4. Homework
What do we know about the Mayans as a civilization? (A+ answer)