Maya
Aztec
Inca
Geography
Mesoamerica stretches from
central Mexico to Northern
Central America.
Meso = middle
Both Mayan and Aztec
civilizations developed here.
The Maya
(AD 250 – 900s)
Maya lived in
Mexico’s Yucatan
Peninsula down
through northern
Guatemala in Central
America.
Maya grew many
crops including
beans, squash,
avocados, and maize
(corn).
The Classic Age
A.D. (Anno Domini)
250 – 900 was the height
of their civilization.
They had 40 large cities
each with its own
government and king.
The cities traded with
each other: cotton,
cacao (chocolate),
jade, and obsidian.
Palenque was a major city.
King Pacal became
king when he was
just 12 years old!!
Maya built temples,
palaces, canals, and
large plazas.
Farmers built
terraces to farm
along the hillsides.
Pok-a-tok: Game played
using only heads, hips and
shoulders to bounce a
heavy, rubber ball through
a stone ring set high on the
wall (basketball?). Losers
were often killed!!!
Maya Culture
Power held by the
king (god) who held
religious and political
power over the
people.
Upper class (power):
King, priest, rich
merchants, noble
warriors.
Lower class (most people):
Farmers, women. Did all
the work, had to pay
“tribute” to the rulers with
crops and goods, fought in
wars, built the cities.
Maya worshiped many
gods such as the sun
god, maize god, moon
goddess, creator god.
Maya offered blood to their
gods to prevent disasters.
Pierced their tongues and
skin, and made human
sacrifices. Offered
prisoners’ hearts to stone
carvings of the gods.
Achievements
Observatories were
built to study
astronomy and
observe the stars and
planets.
Developed two
calendars. One 365
day calendar to guide
farming. One 260 day
calendar to keep track
of religious events.
Skilled in math.
Created a number
system and were one
of the first with a
symbol for zero.
Developed a writing
system that they carved
into stone tablets to
record their history
(Hieroglyphics). Also
used bark-paper books.
Built their huge
temple-pyramids
WITHOUT the aid of
metal tools or
wheeled vehicles.
Chichen Itza
Sacred (Religious)
city with famous
Maya pyramids.
Pyramid of Kukulkan
El Castillo
Built for astronomical purposes. During
the vernal equinox and the autumnal
equinox
at 3 P.M. the sun hits the
pyramid's main stairway. This creates the
body of a serpent 37 yards long that
creeps downwards until it joins the huge
serpent's head carved in stone at the
bottom of the stairway.
Religious Rituals took place here.
(March 20)
(September 21)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQsqpG0XN0g&feature=relate
d 51 second tourist video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USv6vq99PH8 24 seconds
simulation
Decline of the
Maya Civilization
A great mystery!?
Around AD 900
people started to
leave the great cities.
Why???
No one really knows
why.
Some guesses…
Too many burdens
placed on the people
by the kings. They
rebelled.
Warfare between
the Maya cities.
Crop failure.
Climate change.
Drought.
Maya people still
exists today in
Mesoamerica.