Maya Social Structure

Maya Social Structure

By Blake Gaskins

The Ruler ​

- Ruled with the help of his advisers​

- The Maya ruler was considered a god-king

- When he died, a son or male relative succeeded him

Some women had considerable influence, probably through family relationships.

​

​Nobles and Priests

- Along with the ruler, were the only people who knew how to read and write.

- The nobles served as scribes and officials

- They gathered taxes, supplies, and labor for projects, such as the construction of temples. Nobles led peasant armies in times of war 

​

- Priests led rituals, offered sacrifices, and foretold the future

- Priests were often mathematicians, astronomers, and

​Mayan Social Structure

​Ritual:

a set of actions that is always performed the same way as part of a religious ceremony

Sacrifice:

a gift of an animal for slaughter to honor the gods

Multiple Choice

a set of actions that is always performed the same way as part of a religious ceremony

• sacrifice

• ritual

• prayer

• alms

Multiple Choice

a gift of an animal for slaughter to honor the gods

• sacrifice

• ritual

• prayer

• alms

​Merchants and Artisans

- accomplished traders, traveling by sea, river, and well-constructed roads to trade with other city-states. 

- painted books on paper made from the bark of fig trees.

- painted murals of Maya life, important battles, and other major events.

- created sculptures for temples and decorative designs on palace walls.

- skilled weavers and potters.​

Peasants 

- were the backbone of Maya society.

- they worked hard on the land, growing maize, squash, beans, and other crops to feed the population.

- when they were not farming, peasants had to spend time building pyramids and temples.

- peasants also served as soldiers during wars and paid taxes to the nobles

Slaves

- bottom of the social pyramid, performed manual labor for their owners

- some were born into slavery, free people sometimes became slaves.

- a parent might sell their child to feed the rest of the family

- person who committed a serious crime might be enslaved as punishment.

- war prisoners of lower class were also enslaved. (Those of higher rank were sacrificed to the gods.)

- in general, the Maya did not mistreat slaves. (but they were killed when the master died...)