The Mayans

The Mayans

The Mayans

• The Mayans lived in what is now Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and Mexico.

• Their descendants still live there today.

Multiple Choice

The Mayans lived in these modern day countries: Mexico, Honduras, Belize and

• Cuba

• Argentina

• Guatemala

The Mayans

• The Mayans were an established culture from 18oo BCE to 1500 CE.

• Their most famous creations happened during the Classical Period of this empire which was 250-900 C.E.

Concurrent Civilizations

• The Mayan Civilization lasted a long time, the same time as many empires around the world.

• The Mayan's Classical Period overlapped with the Roman Empire, including the Pax Romana.

Multiple Choice

The Mayan Empire's Classical period happened at about the same time as the Pax Romana:

• True

• False

Mayan Acheivements

The Mayans were a very advanced society. Here are some of the things they invented or created:

Mayan Writing

• Used signs called called glyphs

• Earliest from 3rd century BCE

Mayan Writing

• No alphabet

• 800 total glyphs

• Read left to right, top to bottom

Multiple Choice

What are the signs used in Mayan writing called?

• glyphs

• alphabets

• letters

Mayan Math

• Mayans are the first culture in the Americas to invent and use the number zero

Mayan Astronomy

Mayans used observatories, shadow-casting tools and other observations to follow the motion of the sun, stars and planets.

Multiple Choice

Mayans were advanced astronomers.

• true

• false

Mayan Calendars

• Mayans used their observations of the solar system to create calendars

• The Mayans calendars were incredibly accurate especially when used together

Multiple Choice

Mayan calendars were incorrect and do not make sense.

• true

• false

Mayan Architecture

• The Mayans built elaborate pyramids, palaces, temples and residences

• The ruins are still visible today because they were strongly built of stone

• This is Tikal in Guatemala

Multiple Choice

We know a lot about Mayan architecture because we can still exam the ruins today.

• true

• false

Mayan Religion

• The Mayan religion was polytheistic

• They worshiped more than 165 Gods

• Their gods were human-like; they were born, grew up and died

Multiple Choice

Polytheistic means a person believes in:

• 0 gods

• 1 God

• Many gods

Multiple Choice

The Mayans were monotheistic, which means they only believed in one god.

• true

• false

Sacrifice

• Mayans believed in sacrificing to their Gods

• These sacrifices ranged from animals to food to people

Pok-ta-pok

• Pok-ta-pok was a soccer like sport invented and played by the Mayans

• Sometimes the losing team of a Pok-ta-pok match was sacrificed

• Sometimes the heads of losing players were used to play the game

Multiple Choice

Pok-ta-pok was an Ancient Mayan:

• language

• sport

• number

Other Mayan achievements

• Mayans are also credited with discovering chocolate

• Mayans did not use metal but instead were the first to discover and use rubber

Mayans today

• Not only do many achievements and inventions continue to influence people today, so do the languages and culture

Mayans languages

• In Guatemala alone, 21 Mayan languages are spoken today!

• Over 1.5 million people speak K'iche' and Q'eqchi' as a first language in Guatemala

Multiple Choice

Mayan culture has no influence on modern society.

• true

• false