1. Warm Up #6
Write a paragraph explaining what you have learned so far about the Maya. Be sure to include the following words:
Astronomy
Popol Vuh
Polytheistic
Pacal
Palenque

2. Ch. 14.3 Assessment Questions
3a. What did the Maya study from observatories?
They studied the stars (astronomy) from observatories.
3b. What do you think was the most impressive Maya achievement?
Answers will say something like a calendar, cities, inventions, crops, writing, math/number system, astronomy, or art.

3. Ch 14.3 Assessment Questions
4. draw a diagram like the one to the right. Use it to identify some major achievements of the Maya.
art
science
writing
jewelry
architecture
Astronomy
Calendar
math
language

4. Warfare in Mayan society
In what ways did religion influence warfare?

5. Background
Until recently scholars believed the Mayan civilization to be fairly peaceful
However, evidence suggests that they frequently were at war.
Some scholars think warfare may have contributed to the decline of the civilization.
Loss of people
Loss of crops
Fields destroyed
The Maya were similar to ancient Greece, with many warring city-states

6. How did they fight?
The Maya nobility made up the upper ranks of the armies.
Peasants were used as foot soldiers.
Combat was largely fought hand to hand with clubs and knives
Individual warriors sought to engage in heroic deeds to advance their place in society

7. Why did they fight?
One purpose of engaging in a battle was to capture enemy soldiers for sacrifice
These captives were needed for ceremonies such as the death or birth of a new ruler
City states would also fight over resources such as food, water and obsidian

8. Pok Ta Pok Mayan and Aztez ballgame
Goal was to get a rubber ball through an elevated hoop, using mainly your hips.
Couldn’t use hands or feet.
It is believed that the losers (and sometimes the winners) were sacrificed to the gods
Each city-state had a court to play on.

9. Pok Ta Pok

10. Homework Update notebook
Finish questions and summary on Warfare Cornell Notes.