Name:
Date:
Per:
Topic: The Maya
1.  Setup today’s
notes
2.  Turn in
Africa notes
3.  Read
newsletter
Main Ideas/
Questions
Notes
Maya Geography
•  The Mayas lived in a
jungle environment
in present-day
Mexico, Guatemala,
Honduras, El
Salvador, and
Belize.
Mayan City-States
•  They lived in
independent cities
like Copan, Tikal
and Palenque.
Each city-state had
a king.
Mayan Society
•  Mayan society was
made up of classes:
•  The Ruler
•  Nobles and
Priests
•  Merchants
•  Peasants
•  Slaves
Mayan Religion
•  The Mayas were
polytheistic.
•  Their gods included:
•  Itzamna- Creator of
the world
•  Kukulcan-God of
the wind.
•  Chac-The rain god.
Mayan Math
•  They used dots and
dashes to count.
•  They had a concept
for zero.
Mayan Agriculture
•  Mayan agriculture
was based on corn
or maize.
•  Some foods, like
chili, cocoa beans,
and avocados, were
unknown to
Europeans.
Because they lived in a jungle, the Maya
practiced slash and burn farming.
The Maya practiced terraced
(stepped) farming.
Pok-a-Tok
•  The Maya had a
ball game called
Pok-A-Tok.
•  The object of the
game was to move
a hard rubber ball
through a hoop
without using hands
or feet.