The May Civilization

Maya Civilization

Around 1000 BC the Maya began settling in the lowlands of what is now northern Guatemala. Thick tropical forests covered most of the land, but the people cleared areas to farm. They grew a variety of crops, including beans, squash, avocados, and maize. The forests provided valuable resources, too. Forest animals such as deer, rabbits, and monkeys were sources of food. In addition, trees and other forest plants made good building materials.

Multiple Choice

The Mayans lived in what is now present-day..

• Chile
• Brazil
• Cuba
• Mexico

Multiple Choice

Which Mesoamerican civilization came first?

• Inca

• Olmec

• Aztec

• Maya

Multiple Choice

Which Mesoamerican civilization came second?

• Inca

• Olmec

• Aztec

• Maya

​The Classic Age

​The Maya civilization reached its height between about AD 250 and 900. This time in Maya history is known as the Classic Age. During this time, Maya territory grew to include more than 40 large cities. Each had its own government and its own king. No single ruler united the many cities into one empire. Sometimes the different cities fought with each other for control of land and resources.

​Maya cities were linked through trade. The Maya established trade routes throughout Mesoamerica. People exchanged goods for products that were not available locally. For example, the warm lowlands were good for growing cotton and cacao, the source of chocolate. But lowland crops did not grow well in the cool highlands. Instead, the highlands had valuable stones, such as jade and obsidian.

Multiple Choice

What did the highlanders contribute to the Maya civilization?

• tropical fruits and beans

• pearls, salt, fish

• obsidian, feathers, jade

• sacred water

​Through trade, the Maya got supplies for construction. Maya cities had grand buildings, such as palaces decorated with carvings and paintings. The Maya also built stone pyramids topped with temples. Some temples honored local kings. For example, in the city of Palenque, the king Pacal had a temple built to record his achievements.

​Maya Culture

​The king held the highest position in Maya society. The Maya believed their kings were related to the gods, so Maya kings had religious as well as political authority. Priests, rich merchants, and noble warriors were also part of the upper class. Together with the king, these people held all the power in Maya society.

Most Maya, though, belonged to the lower class. This group was made up of farming families who lived outside the cities. The women cared for the children, cooked, made yarn, and wove cloth. The men farmed, hunted, and crafted tools.

Multiple Choice

In the Mayan civilization, who was responsible for studying the stars and creating a calendar?

• the king

• the farmers

• Maya women

• priests

​Religion

​The Maya worshiped many gods, such as a creator, a sun god, a moon goddess, and a maize god. Each god was believed to control a different aspect of daily life.

According to Maya beliefs, the gods could be helpful or harmful, so people tried to please the gods to get their help. The Maya believed their gods needed blood to prevent disasters or the end of the world. Every person offered blood to the gods by piercing their tongue or skin. On special occasions, the Maya made human sacrifices. They usually used prisoners captured in battle, offering their hearts to stone carvings of the gods.

Multiple Choice

The Mayans belived in more than one god. This is called _____________.

• nomadic
• polytheism 
• temple
• sacrifice

​Achievements

​The Maya’s religious beliefs led them to make impressive advances in science. They built large observatories, or buildings from which people could study the sky, so their priests could watch the stars and plan the best times for religious festivals. With the knowledge they gained about astronomy, the Maya developed two calendars. One, with 365 days, guided farming activities, such as planting and harvesting. This calendar was more accurate than the one used in Europe at that time.

Multiple Choice

The Mayas were skillful 

• astronomers
• farmers
• mathematicians 
• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Which early civilization created a calendar that measured time in blocks over 5,000 years?

• the Olmec

• the Maya

• the Egyptians

• the Aztecs

​Decline of the Maya

​Maya civilization began to collapse in the AD 900s. People stopped building temples and other structures. They left the cities and moved back to the countryside. What caused this collapse? Historians are not sure, but they think that a combination of factors was probably responsible.

One factor could have been the burden on the common people. Maya kings forced their subjects to farm for them or work on building projects. Perhaps people didn’t want to work for the kings. They might have decided to rebel against their rulers’ demands and abandon their cities.