Maya Social Heriachy

The chart above represents the social hierarchy of a school. Based on this picture,

what do you think,”social hierarchy” means?

Multiple Choice

Who had the most power?

• the priests

• the artisans

• the queen

• the Sapa Inca

Social Hierarchy is a framework used to organize a

civilization.

Historians usually see two groups - people
who are rich or have a lot of influence,or
power, called the upper class, and all the

remaining people who are in between,

called the middle class.

This hierarchy is usually presented in a
pyramid shape.

How do you think the pyramid shape
connects to the idea of a hierarchy?

Social Hierarchy-Maya

Commoners

Leaders/Kings

Artisans/Merchants

Slaves

Priests

Nobles/Warriors

Who had the most POWER?

Social Hierarchy-Maya

Commoners

Leaders/Kings

Artisans/Merchants

Slaves

Priests

Nobles/Warriors

Who had the most POWER?

Multiple Choice

Maya priests led rituals and offered sacrifices. What was another role of the priests?

• to foretell the future

• to lead peasant armies

• to carve temple sculptures

• to conduct long-distance trade

Multiple Choice

How was the jaguar important to the Maya?

• Warriors trained it to fight.

• It provided meat for their diet.

• It was a feature of their religion.

• Peasants wore its fur to keep warm.

Social Hierarchy-Maya

Leaders-Kings

Nobles

Priests

Artisans/

Merchants

Warriors

Commoners

Slaves

Learn more…