DBQ Maya

The Maya were considered one the most __ civilizations in the Americas before the Spanish conquest.

• advanced

• oldest

• aggressive

• long-lasting

How was the Mayan calendar created?

• from observations of the sun and sky over thousands of years

• through complex mathematical computations & measurements

• a priest was given the details in a series of dreams about the gods

Where was the Maya civilization located?

• in Mesoamerica

• in South America

• in the Caribbean

• in Southwest America

How were the Maya organized politically?

• they lived in city-states that sometimes worked together and sometimes went to war against each other

• they lived in an empire that included multiple smaller kingdoms that formed alliances with each other

• they lived in villages that had no contact or interactions with the others

What rituals did the Maya NOT use to please their gods?

• blood-letting

• human sacrifice

• communion

What happened to the Maya in 900 C.E.? (Which option are we sure happened?)

• Something caused them to abandon their city-states

• There were a serie of civil wars which killed the majority of the population

• There were too many people and not enough food, jobs, or housing

• Something caused a series of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions

TRUE or FALSE: Despite the Maya disappearing in 900 C.E., there are still millions of people who speak Mayan dialects and/or practice Mayan traditions.

• True

• False

Definition: a success; an achievement

• significance

• dialect

• glyph

• accomplishment

TRUE or FALSE: The Maya had no agriculture and they were not able to grow their own food.

• True

• False

The Maya used a common

• writing system

• ruler, king, or emperor

• currency (or coins/printed money)