1. The Maya 16.1 Chapter 16 Section 1

2. Geography Reaches from central Mexico to northern Central America. 1000 BC- settled in Guatemala. Tropical Forest –Farmed: beans, squash, avocado, maize (corn) –Forest: deer, rabbit, monkey, building materials

7. Lived in small, isolated villages –Connected through trade –Trade increased, villages grew By AD 200 Mayans had huge cities

10. Classic Age AD 250-900- height of Mayan civilization 40 large city-states –Own government, own king No ruler brought all cities together –Trade held cities together Example- forest goods, cotton, cacao beans for obsidian, jade, bird feathers

11. Grand buildings, palaces, temples –Temples honored kings Example Pacal –Canals –Large plazas Open squares Open court for ball game

23. Mayan Social Structure -Kings were highest -Believed to be related to the gods. -Had religious and political authority -Upper Class -Priests, merchants, noble warriors -All held power in society -Lower Class -Farming families -Had to “pay” their rulers part of their crop -Slaves

24. Mayan Religion Polytheistic –Sun god, moon goddess, maize god –Each controlled different part of daily life –Could be harmful or helpful People tried to please –Mayans believed blood was needed for gods to prevent disasters Every person offered (piercing tongue or skin) Human sacrifices on special occasions

25. Achievements Advances in science –Observatories See stars, plan festivals –Developed calendars 360 day for planting 260- religious –Accurate time

28. Writing system –Symbols represented objects and sounds Created amazing art and architecture –Jade and gold jewelry –Temples and pyramids exceptionally built No metal tools, no wheeled carts Decorated with paintings

37. Decline of Civilization AD 900- started to collapse –People stopped building, moved to countryside –Reasons 1. Burden of the common people 2. Increase of warfare between cities 3. Couldn’t produce enough food Collapse happened gradually –Later revived in Yucatan Peninsula –Mayan power had faded before Spanish arrived