The Maya. The Mysterious Maya 400 BCE–900 CE Central America

The Maya

The Mysterious Maya

400 BCE–900 CECentral America

Natural BarriersFrom about 400 BCE until 900 CE, the Maya civilization stretched from the highlands of modern day Guatemala to the hot coastal plain along the Pacific Coast, to the tropical rain forest of the Yucatan Peninsula.

These natural barriers helped to protect the Maya civilization for 1300 years.

The MayaTo find the ruins of ancient Maya cities hidden deep in the rainforest, archaeologists have to hunt on foot. The rain forest is home to many poisonous animals.

Some archaeologists are willing to brave the dangers to learn more about the clever Maya.

Maya CitiesTwo thousand years ago, the Yucatan Peninsula was a busy place. The Maya did not have metal tools—they used stone, bone, and wood tools to build hundreds of magnificent cities.

Cities were centers of religion and learning. The Maya studied art, mathematics, architecture, drama, medicine, and music.

Maya CitiesEvery Maya city had an impressive palace for its ruler, a bustling marketplace, an open-air plaza where people could gather, and at least one huge pyramid, a large temple, and one ball court similar to the stadiums we have today.

People came to town to shop, to worship, and to cheer at the ball games.

Cities QuestionTwo of the largest cities were

• Tikal (tee-KAHL), located in the country of Guatemalapresent-day

• Copan (ko-PAHN), located in the present-day country of Honduras

Gods of NatureThe Maya worshipped the gods of nature. Some of their gods included Lady Rainbow, and the Gods of Rain, Maize, and Sun.

Without the help of these important gods, there would be no crops and everyone would starve.

PriestsThe priests, along with the leaders in each city-state, were the most powerful people in the Maya civilization. The Maya believed that their priests could talk to the gods.

The priests decided when to plant crops and when people could marry and to whom. Before doing pretty much anything, one had to ask for a priest’s approval.

The UnderworldThe Maya believed in an underworld, the Place of Awe. The priests held ceremonies to keep demons and spooky creatures locked inside the underworld, where they belonged.

During these ceremonies, priests wore scary masks and jaguar costumes. They wanted to look as scary as the magical creatures in the underworld.

The Legend of Mirrors

The Maya believed that one could communicate with a god by looking into a mirror.

Legend says…warriors going into battle wore mirrors on their backs. The idea was that if an enemy warrior tried to sneak up on a Maya warrior, a demon might reach out from the underworld and snatch the enemy.

The Maya

Classic Period

Either 250 BC to 950 AD

Or 10 AD to 1190 AD

The Mayas We know they were not called Mayas When Spaniards arrived, the major city

was MAYAPAN (thus the name the Mayas)

The only great civilization to be located in the “jungle”

Primarily the Yucatan peninsula and northern central America

MAYAS

MAYA

KINGDOM

Bishop Diego de Landa Bishop Diego de Landa is best known for

two reasons: 1st – He thought the Maya books were

inspired by the devil, so he had them all destroyed

2nd – Recognizing his mistake, several years later returned to Yucatan and wrote ““Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan.”

This book based on the three Mayan books that survived

Maya Civilization Expert Astronomers

Astronomers Calculated Lunar and Solar Eclipses

– Used that information to have “Festivals” Understanding of the Solar Position in

the sky

Maya Civilization Expert Astronomers Great Mathematicians

Mathematicians Had a system based on 20 Recognized the zero (unlike the

Romans for instance) One two three four five six eight nine ten nineteen twenty

Mayan Math

= represented the number “0” zero

. = represented the number “1” one_= represented the number “5” five

Example: .. is “7”

Maya Civilization Expert Astronomers Great Mathematicians Good architects though were not able

to complete the arch

Architects Build Magnificent Temples and Places

for Commerce and Games

Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by explorer Hiram Bingham. Itsits one and a half miles high on a mountaintop in Peru once inhibited bythe Inca civilization. Bingham thought it must have been a special religious city because of the fine stonework, however archaeologistsbelieve it was some type of vacation resort for Inca nobles. Over 3,000 steps connect the levels of the city and farming terraces. It could only be reached by a log bridge on a sheer cliff. If enemies threatened the citizens there, they would simply draw back the bridge.

Clipart picture taken from Microsoft clips online

Maya Civilization Expert Astronomers Great Mathematicians Good architects though were not able

to complete the arch Great warriors

Maya Civilization Expert Astronomers Great Mathematicians Good architects though were not able

to complete the arch Great warriors Active Merchants (Used Cocoa as currency)

Mayan Economy A trade system existed through which salt,

obsidian, jade, cacao, animal pelts, tropical bird feathers, luxury ceramics and other goods flowed.

Goods from the highlands were traded with those of the lowlands. Obsidian was made into tools and weapons.

People either bartered goods directly or exchanged them for cacao beans

Commonly Bartered Items

Maya Civilization Expert Astronomers Great Mathematicians Good architects though were not able

to complete the arch Great warriors Active Merchants (Used Cocoa as currency)

Social Structure

Social Structure The Social

Pyramid– Priests– nobles wealthy– commoners and

low-level govern officers

– slaves and servants

Priest

Maya Civilization Expert Astronomers Great Mathematicians Good architects though were not able

to complete the arch Great warriors Active Merchants (Used Cocoa as currency)

Advances In Medicine

Maya Medicine 1. ULCERS, GASTRITIS

Mineral crystal stone. Put in water and drink the water every day. For sores in the mouth, put directly on affected area. No side effects. For thousands of years the Mayan elders have been using this practice. Prepared by thegreat grand niece of H'me Elijio Panti. $7.50 (US)

Maya Medicine 9. DIABETES,

HYPOGLYCEMIA, BLOOD SUGAR STABILIZER Billy Webb Bark Tea. Boil one hand full of bark. Drink 1/2 cup of tea twice daily, until blood sugar stabilizes. $7.50 (US)

10. DIARRHEA Traveler's Tonic. Take 3 tablespoons every hour for as long as condition persists. $7.50 (US)

Maya Civilization Expert Astronomers Great Mathematicians Good architects though were not able to

complete the arch Great warriors Active Merchants (Used Cocoa as currency)

Advances In Medicine Games

GAME The Maya had a ball game

called Pok-A-Tok. It was played on an odd shaped field.

The object of the game was to move a hard rubber ball without the use of hands or feet through a hoop.

There is debate whether it was the losing team or the winning team that was sacrificed.

GAME

Decapitation scene at ball court,

GAME

Mystery Question: Debate over why several sites are

shown to have been abandon? – They left site due to Natural Disasters– They left site due to over crowding– They abandon Commercial and Religion

sites but did not move

Demise of the Mayas Natural

– Ecology Soil Exhaustion Water Loss and Erosion Savana Grass Competition (Continual burning

of soil led to end original forest and converted into man-made grass land. Problem, Mayas did not have toil equipment).

– Catastrophism Earthquakes Hurricanes

– Evolution Main idea was that social collapse occurred

due to over population and lack of food supply

– Disease

Demise of the Mayas (continuation)

Demise of the Mayas (continuation)

Social– Demography

Higher rate of female to male ratios led to a collapse of social order

– Social Structure – Invasion

Demise of the Mayas (continuation)

Demise of the Mayas (continuation)

Economic Trade Collapse led to Rebellion and Invasion

Maya Core Teotihuacan Core

Maya Buffer Zone

Teotihuacan Buffer Zone

Towns in Buffer Zone

Possible Causes of Collapse of Classic Mayan Civilization

•Lack of Resources *Enormous Population-Water - Food - Materials -Lack of modern agricultural tools like the plow.-Revolution against the Government -Depletion of the soil-Attack against the kings -Peasant uprising -Too many people to feed

-Invasion-foreign - tribal; Toltecs

-Trade routes-Shifting toward the North - Increase use of water routes

-Location-Possible weather / climate concerns - Earthquakes, hurricanes -Epidemics of disease

-Calendar prophesies-They Mayans believed they were headed for collapse because their calendar said they were, therefore they thought they should move to new centers

Tribes: Everyday Life

Food Religion Social Organization

Achievements Fall of the

Empire

Maya •Hard work•Slash & Burn•Planting•Building / Architecture•Irrigation

•Birds, Rabbits, Monkeys, Deer•Wild fruits•Nuts•Vegetables corn, squash, beans, etc.

•Many different gods•13 layers of heavens above the earth•9 underworlds •Sacrifices•Worship Dead

•Lord•Nobles•Priests•Merchants / Artisans•Peasants•Slaves

•Legends•Architecture•Hieroglyphics•Ball Game•Calendars•Astronomy•Mathematics•Irrigation•Raised fields

•Abandoned their cities and just walked away / left•Natural Disaster•Disease

Inca

•Large Empire•Roads•Terrace farming•Hard work•Planting•Andes Mts., rain forests, coastal deserts

•Potatoes•Corn•Tomatoes•Avocados•Peppers•Strawberries•Nuts•Beans•Chocolate

•Many gods and goddesses•God of nature Viracocha•Sun god –Inti•Daily prayers•Festivals

•Sapa Inca descendant of the Sun god – wife Coya•Nobles•Govt Officials•Little contact with the Mayans & Aztecs

•Roads•Terrace Farming•Irrigation•Tamed llamas•Counting system/quipus

•Spanish arrived and conquered

Aztec

•Steambath•Large households•Farming•Crafting•Trade

•Maize (corn)•Beans•Squash•Chili Peppers•Tomatoes•Wild game

•Gods•Goddesses•A Patron God for each village

•Royal Family/Upper class nobles•Commoners•Serfs•Slaves

•Architecture•Calendars•Trade / Canals•Markets•Sculptures•Weaving

•(Spanish)•Cortes•Conquistadors

Religion Mayans Incas AztecsThe Mayans worshipped many different gods. Believed their rulers were living gods.

The Inca worshipped many gods and goddesses.

Worshiped many gods and goddesses.

Believed there were 13 layers of heavens above the earth and 9 underworlds below.

The major Incan god was the god of nature, Viracocha, the creator. Another Incan god was Inti the sun god. Gold was his symbol & he was the father of Incan rulers.

Each village & occupation had its own patron god. A different god for each day watched over them.

Ceremonies of gifts and sacrifices, such as valuables, their own blood and human sacrifices.

Believed in “divining” which is studying objects to find magic signs the gods wanted them to know. Had offerings and sacrifices as well.

Human sacrifices, men women and sometimes children.

Rulers MAYANS INCAS AZTECSLord Cacao-King of Tikal

18 Gopher-Ruler of Copan

Pacal – Ruler of Palenque

Lord

•Was considered a god-king

•Responsible for political leadership

•Lords mostly men, but women had great influence on political decisions

Pachacuti (1438-1463)

•Vision to use warfare to spread Inca culture

•Promise peace and gifts backed by threats

•Forced conquered peoples to obey leaders & learn the language; but could keep native language, leaders & gods.

Huyayna Capac•Atahualpa >

•Huscar > His 2 sons

Montezuma (1440-1468/9)

•Expanded the empire from the Atlantic to Pacific coasts & to Central America to what is now Guatemala.

•Montezuma II – his grandson became emperor in 1502. He ruled when the empire was at its peak.