1. 6th Grade World History Mrs. Merritt 2014-15
Mayan Civilization
6th Grade World History Mrs. Merritt

2. Settlement
Settlement began in the lowlands of what is now Guatemala. This wooded area is called the Peten, or “flat region.”
Mayas were settled in Central America.

3. Location Mayan civilization was located in the Yucatan Peninsula
The Maya developed their civilization in a region known as Mesoamerica.
SINKHOLES AND SWAMPS – PROVIDED FRESHWATER

4. FARMING CROPS: BEANS, SQUASH, AVOCADO, MAIZE (CORN)
CLEARED TREES TO FARM THE LAND – “SLASH AND BURN”
USED STONE WALLS TO MAKE FLAT TERRACES TO FARM ON THE HILLS

5. SOCIAL STRUCTURE KING: HIGHEST POSITION/REALTED TO THE GODS
Priests/Merchants/Noble Warriors: Upper, power
Farming Families: pay the rulers in crops, salt, cloth
Slaves/servants

6. Most Maya belonged to the lower class.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Lower class Maya included farming families and slaves. They had the following responsibilities:
Help construct temples and other buildings
The men farmed, hunted, and crafted tools
Had to pay their rulers with crops, salt, and cloth
Most Maya belonged to the lower class.

7. Government
City-states
Each had it’s own government and king

8. RELIGION Polytheistic (many Gods): Sun God, moon goddess, maize god
Gave blood (piercing tongue/skin, human sacrifice) to please the gods and prevent disaster
Priests led ceremonies on the tops of temples

9. ACHIEVEMENTS
Observatories: buildings used to study the sky and the stars
Created a number system with zero
365-day calendar: agriculture
260-day calendar
Writing system: Sounds and objects
Architecture: temples, pyramids
Bark paper books
Jade and gold jewelry

10. Achievements Science Math Art and Architecture Built observatories
Developed two calendars
Could measure time
Created number system
Measured time
Among the first to use a symbol for “0”
Base 20 number system
Developed writing system
Created jade and gold crafts
Built temple-pyramids

11. MAYAN DECLINE
In 900, most of the Mayans had fled to the countryside. It was a gradual change that eventually led to the decline of the civilization.
What led to the decline? Historians are not sure why the Maya civilization collapsed in the AD 900s. Some factors that may have caused it to disappear were:
Rebelled against the kings in city-states
Being forced to supply food and labor may have led the common people to rebel against Maya rulers.
Increased warfare
Climate changes
Couldn’t produce enough food

12. MAYAN DECLINE (CON’T) What happened?
Wars between the city-states, left for safety
Why did they flee?
Food shortages (not enough to feed all)
Weather/climate changes, droughts (no rain)