MesoAmericans

Land of the Maya

Inhabited the Yucatan Peninsula

Three Regions

• Southern - steep, rocky mountains

• Central - dense tropical lowlands

• Northern - dry, few rivers, limestone wells

Main CitiesMain Cities

• Tikal • Palenque• Mayapan• Uxmal• Chichen Itza• Copan• Tulum

Classic PeriodClassic Period

• c. 300 A.D. to c. 900 A.D.

• large, well organized cities

• centers for practicing religion

• market places

• areas of storage

• roads

• schools

Leaders

• Noble lords ruled over city-states

• High priests had much power because of religious importance

InnovationsInnovations

• Slash and burn farming

• The concept of “0” as a value for nothing

• architecture (pyramids)

• calendars

• measuring time

• astronomy

End of the Empire

• The empire mysteriously fell apart.

• There are many theories.

• Mayans left the cities and dwelled in the jungles.

Spanish Arrive

• By 1500, Mayan Empire no longer existed.

• A large population still inhabited the region.

• Spanish destroy books, churches, and art.

Review QuestionsReview Questions

What region did the Mayans inhabit? What region did the Mayans inhabit? Who were the two main leaders in Who were the two main leaders in

Mayan society?Mayan society?Name a couple innovations the Mayans Name a couple innovations the Mayans

are credited with? are credited with? What did the Spanish do to take control What did the Spanish do to take control

of the area?of the area?

Works CitedWorks Cited

• Roth, Peter. Maya: A simulation of Mayan civilization during the early seventh century. Lakeside, California: Interaction Publishers, Inc., 1993.

• Schele, Linda. “Rabbit in the Moon.” Rabbit in the Moon. 05-10-99 \ 08-06-02 <http://www.halfmoon.org/inuit.html>.

• Warner Bros. <http://www.cartoonsounds.com/wbwav1.cfm>.