1. The Maya

2. I. Maya Create City-States Homeland: southern Mexico into northern Central America (Yucatan Pen.)

3. A. Urban Centers 250-900 CE: the Classic Prd. of Maya civ.  Built great cities Tikal, Copan, Palenque, Uxmal, & Chichen Itza Ruled by god-king Centers of religious ceremonies & trade Giant pyramids, temples, palaces

5. Temple IV pyramid (Tikal)

6. Hip ulama ball court Chichin Itza (545’ long, 225’ wide) WINNER?!

8. B. Ag. & Trade Support Cities Mayan comms:  Based on ag., handicrafts, & long-distance trade Intensive Ag. = BASIS OF LIFE!  –cleared (slash/burn), irrigated, terraced  Squash, chili peppers, & maize (80% of food) Maya city-states = linked by trade  Metal work, cotton cloth, flint  Used currencies (cocoa beans, polished beads, salt, & lengths of cotton)

10. C. Kingdoms Built on Dynasties Maya social classes:  Nobility (priests & warriors) = no labor  Merchants & artisans  Peasants = majority  PRIEST KING (top) Descendent of a god Hereditary Govt. levied taxes & controlled outlying villages Also made war (stone-bladed weapons)

11. II. Religion in Mayan Life Religion = permeated all phases of life  Life = burden (time is a measure) Need to appease the gods thru pain/suffering  Complex Worshiped over 160 gods gods of corn, of death, of rain, of war Could be good or evil (both) Each day was a living god

12. A. Religious Practices Prayed, made offerings Pierced & cut bodies (nourish the gods) Human sacrifice Threw captives into deep sinkhole (“cenote”)

13. B. Math & Religion Time = burden carried on back of gods  Important to have accurate calendar 2 calendars:  260 day religious calendar (thirteen 20 day mos.)  365 day solar calendar (eighteen 20 day mos.)  Identified best times to plant crops, attack enemies, crown new rulers)  Based on observation of planets (better than Euro.)  Calculated solar year at 365.2420 days  Math system based on #20 w/concept of zero

15. C. Mayan Written Language Only complete writing system in Amers. 800 hieroglyphic symbols (glyphs) Recorded history in stone or bark-paper  Codex Spanish documented Maya history  “Popol Vuh” – Maya version of creation Before the world was created, Calm and Silence were the great kings that ruled. Nothing existed, there was nothing

16. III. Maya Architecture & Art Plaza = pyramid topped w/temple  Religious structures, tombs  Temple I (Tikal) – tomb of Ha Sawa Chaan K’awil Mural painting Stele – inscribed or carved marker

17. IV. Maya Decline 900 CE—abandoned cities (mystery) Toltec invaders moved in Why did Maya decline?  1. internal conflict that disrupted trade = economic hardship?  2. over –farming of soil = food shortages, famine?  3. peasant revolts? Early 1500s—Maya were small, weak city- states