Mayan Empire

Why did Maya priest study astronomy?

• keep the king happy

• to determine the plans of the gods and know when to plant crops

• to understand the reason for suffering

• to know when to perform rituals of human sacrifice

Maya economy was based on...

• theocracy
• religious rituals
• agriculture and trade
• Chichen Itza & Tikal

Where did the Maya settle?

• high in the Himalaya Mountains

• Mesopotamia

• Yucatan Peninsula

• Andes Mountains of modern day Peru

Religious worship was led by priest-kings but all Mayans worshiped many Gods.  This type of religion is known as

• monotheism
• polytheism

Which color represents where the Maya civilization was located?

• blue

• gray

• red

• green

Why did kings have political AND religious authority?

• The Maya people elected them to have control of both
• The Maya believed they were related to the gods
• The kings fought and killed anyone who tried to rule
• The kings were also considered priests

What were the observatories used for?

• So priests could watch the stars and plan religious festivals
• So the kings could keep a close watch on their farmers
• Where their food and materials were stored
• Where the sacrifices were held

What did most Maya cities do for fun?

• worship their gods through prayer
• hike through the mountains
• harvest food and make clothing for the king
•  play a special ball game on a stone court

They were among the first people with a symbol for which number?

• 0
• 5
• 10
• 100

Why were human sacrifices made?

• too many people loved in the city
• a punishment for not following the rules
• to please the gods
• animals were considered sacred so humans were used