The Mayan Culture

Mayan culture was established by 1000 BCE. The Maya lived in an area of the Yucatan Peninsula that had poor, infertile soil and no large rivers. Not ideal conditions for a successful civilization. Yet its people grew corn, beans, squash, peppers, and cacao (chocolate). Farming was really important to the Mayas. Most people grew their own crops in small fields. If farmers grew more than they could eat, they traded the leftovers in markets.

Identify foods that were a part of the Mayan culture.

Sentence Stem: The foods that were a part of the Mayan culture were...

We know a lot about the Maya because they had an advanced writing system. Mayan writing included both pictographs and symbols for syllables. Scholars have made great progress in translating the language. Though few books have survived, there are many carved monuments and pottery that include Mayan languages.

What was unique about the written Mayan language?

Sentence Stem: Something interesting about the Mayan language was...

The Maya believed that all natural objects, such as trees and rocks, were inhabited by spirits with invisible powers. They worshipped a range of gods who could change themselves into human and animal shapes. Priests performed ceremonies to keep the gods happy. The Maya thought the world was divided into three parts the Heavens, the Earth and the Underworld, which were all linked together by a giant World Tree. Mayan kings were also thought to become gods after death.

Explain which type of religion the Mayans practiced.

Criteria for Success:

· Identify the type of religion.

· Describe what that type of religion means.

· Explain how you know that the Mayans practiced that type of religion by providing text evidence.

Sentence Stem: The type of religion the Mayan’s followed was.... which means....

The evidence from the text says...

Religious beliefs of the Mayans said they needed to give their gods

(a)