4/25/16 learning targets &
standards
Predict I can describe the highly structured social and poli4cal • 
systems of the Maya. •  I can analyze the Mayans development of astronomy and mathema4cs. •  7.69 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support the analysis of the impacts of the Mesoamerican developments in astronomy and mathema@cs, including the calendar, and the Mesoamerican knowledge of seasonal changes to the civiliza@ons’ agricultural systems. (C, H) •  7.65 Describe the highly structured social and poli@cal system of the Maya civiliza@on, ruled by kings and consis@ng of agriculturally intensive centers around independent city-­‐states. The Classic Age
•  By 200 AD, the Maya had begun to build large ci@es in Mesoamerica, mostly within the Yucatan Peninsula. It reached its height between AD 250-­‐ 900. •  The ci@es were really city states. Each had its own government and its own king. Agriculture
•  The Maya inhabited Mesoamerica. •  Around 1000 BC the Maya began seWling in the lowlands of what is now northern Guatemala. This region is full of mostly tropical rainforest-­‐ so people cleared the land to farm crops: beans, squash, avocados, and maize (corn) •  They used their vast collec@on of wood to build. –  What are city states? Mayan Cities
•  Trade held the Maya civiliza@on together and through trade, they got supplies for construc@on. –  palaces decorated with carvings and pain@ngs –  stone pyramids topped with temples (temples honored kings) •  The city of Palenque built a temple to honor the king Pacal's achievement. builders
•  Maya also built canals and paved large plazas (open squares for public gatherings) •  Farmers used stone walls to shape hillside into flat terraces so they could grow crops. •  They also played games in a stone court! 1 4/25/16 Mayan Cities
•  The Maya were master builders.
•  They did not have metal tools—they used
stone, bone, and wood tools to build hundreds
of magnificent cities.
Social Structure
•  King-­‐ held highest posi@on-­‐ believed to be related to the gods •  Priests, merchants, and noble warriors were also upper class -­‐ They all held the power in society •  lower class – farmers (most of popula@on) •  Slaves RELIGION
•  The Maya worshipped many gods: –  Creator –  Sun god –  Moon goddess –  Maize god •  Why would pleasing the gods be such an important part of their daily life? •  On special occasions they would make human sacrifices architecture
•  The Mayan also had amazing architecture. farmers- lower class
•  Women cared for their children, cooked, made yarn, and wove cloth •  Men farmed, hunted, and crabed tools –  They had to pay their rulers by giving them crops, tools, and salt . •  The men would also go to baWle if needed –  If they were captured in baWle they would become slaves. Achievements
•  The religious beliefs of the Maya led them to make advances in science. They built observatories so their priest could watch the stars and plan the best @me for fes@vals. •  With the knowledge they gained about astronomy they made two calendars! What do you know about the calendars?? 2 4/25/16 Calendar
•  One had 365 days on it – this guided plan@ng, harves@ng, and other farming ac@vi@es. This calendar was more accurate than the calendar of the Europeans at the @me. •  They also had a separate 240 day calendar that they used to tracking of religious events. mathematics
•  They could measure 4me accurately because they were skilled mathema4cians •  They created a number system that helped them make complex calcula4ons. •  They were among the first to have a symbol for the number zero. •  They used the numbers to record dates in their history. Writing System
•  They also developed a wri4ng system – it was similar to Egyp4an hieroglyphics, because symbols represented both objects and sound. •  They would carve them in stone tablets. •  They also wrote in bark paper books and passed down books and poems by mouth decline
•  Maya civiliza@on began to collapse in the 900’s . •  People stopped building structures and buildings. •  They leb the ci@es and went back to the countryside. •  Predict-­‐ what do you think caused this collapse? 3