The Maya

The Maya

Textbook pages 584-589

Maya Civilization

• The Maya developed at the time of the Olmecs

• They learned a lot from the Olmecs

• Their civilization arose in 250 AD and lasted until 850 AD

• They lived in what is now Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula

Multiple Choice

Which group of people did the Maya learn from?

• The Aztecs

• The Olmecs

• The Japanese

Maya Cities

• The Maya's built huge cities that had hundreds of buildings including pyramids, temples, and palaces

• They had paved gathering places and paved roadways

• Most Maya people did not live in the cities

• Most people lived in farming villages that surrounded the city

Maya Society

• The Maya had complex societies

• The three main groups were the Upper Class (nobles), a middle class, and Lower Class (See chart)

• Most Maya people were commoners who raised crops (commoners are lower class)

Multiple Choice

Where did most Maya people live?

• In the cities

• In farming villages

Multiple Choice

Most Maya people were in which social class?

• Upper

• Middle

• Lower

Farming and Trade

• Farming was the center of the Maya economy

• They also used the slash-and-burn method of farming

• Traveling traders connected Mayan cities together in a large trade network

• They traded food, obsidian, jade, and feathers from the Quetzal, a tropical bird

Multiple Choice

What was the center of Maya economy?

• trade

• farming

• weaving

Maya Religion

• The Maya were deeply religious and worshipped many gods. (They were polytheistic)

• They believed their priests and kings could communicate with the gods.

• They practiced many rituals including human sacrifice.

• These people were usually prisoners of war, slaves, and children

• They saw human sacrifice as a way of keeping the gods happy and the universe in balance.

Multiple Choice

True or False. The Maya believed in human sacrifice.

• True

• False

The Fall of the Maya

• Between 800 and 1000, many of the cities began to fall

• Warfare and drought were thought to be the reasons for the cities decline

• Smaller cities lasted longer, but in the early 1500's the Spanish conquered the remaining Maya.

• Many Maya people still survive today

Multiple Choice

When did the Spanish capture the Maya?

• 800

• 1000

• 950

• 1500

The End

Any questions???