Chapter 22 The Maya

Popol Vuh

A book or codex that described Maya religion and mythology.

slash-and-burn agriculture

A farming technique in which vegetation is cut away and burned to clear land for growing crops.The ash from the fire was important because it helped to fertilize the crops.

hieroglyphic

A form of writing that uses pictures as symbols.It was adapted by the Olmec.

Obsidian

A hard rock that was used to make sharp edges and tools.

Batab

A lesser lord, usually ruling over a small town.

Mesoamérica

A region that extends from modern-day Mexico through Central America.It is known as Middle America.This region has a nice climate.

Cenote

A sinkhole or pit filled with water, cenotes were sources of water for the Maya and were also used as places of sacrifice.

observatory

A special place that was built by the Mayans for studying the heavens.The Mayans charted the movements of the moon,stars,and planets.later,they used what they knew about astronomy and math to create a complex and very accurate calendar.

Stela

A tall monumental sculpture made from stone with relief carvings made by the Maya.

Codex

A type of book written by the Maya that was created by one long sheet of paper that was then folded like an accordion.

Chac Mool

A type of statue of a human figure in a reclining position usually holding a tray over the stomach.

Tikal

An ancient Mayan city.It lies deep in the jungles of Guatemala and is a really advanced civilization because it has big palaces made out of hand-cut lime stones.

Yucatan Peninsula -

An area in southeastern Mexico where some of the Maya civilization developed.

City-state

An independent government where a large city rules the surrounding area.

Mayan Religion

Historians have learned about the Mayan religion by studying present-day Mayan practices,ancient artifacts,and documents written during the Post-Classic period.They have learned that the Mayan religion was polytheistic: they believed in many gods. Scholars learned that people and animals were sacrificed because they gave the gods strength.

Haab'

The Maya solar calendar that was used to measure time and had 365 days.

Decline Mayan civilization

The Mayan civilization collapsed.Uncontrolled warfare could have caused the Mayan civilization to collapse.Maybe,invaders came from central Mexico and destroyed the Mayan city states.Perhaps,it was a combination of factors that caused the Mayan civilization to collapse.

Olmecs

The Olmec were Mayan farmers.Their accomplishments were that they established farming villages throughout the region.They also created trade routes that stretched for hundreds of miles.

Mayan agricultural techniques

The agricultural techniques the Maya used to overcome farming challenges were slash and burn agriculture.

Mayan Social Pyramid

The five levels of the Mayan social pyramid were 1 1.rulers:leaders who were considered god-kings everyone has to follow them. 2.nobles and priests: the nobles lead peasant armies and the priests maintained favor with the god however,they were the only people who knew how to read and write 3 merchants and artisans:artisans made many objects and merchants traveled with boats and cars to trade with other city states 4.peasants:people who worked for their masters and were sacrificed when their masters died 5. merchants:people who traveled with boats and cars to trade with other city-states , and 5.slaves:these people were sacrificed when their masters died and performed many tasks for their masters.

Classic Period

The golden age of the Maya civilization running from 250 AD to 900 AD.

Ahau

The main king or lord of a Maya city-state.

Post-classic Period

The period of Maya history running from the end of the Classic Period in 900 AD to the end of the Maya civilization in 1500 AD.

Pre-classic Period

The period of Maya history running from the start of the Maya civilization around 2000 BC to the start of the Classic Period in 250 AD.

Name the present-day countries in the area where the Mayan culture flourished. Describe the landscape of this region.

The present day countries in the area where the Mayan culture flourished are much of Mesoamerica,part of present -day southern Mexico,Belize,most of Guatemala,and in Honduras and El Salvador.The landscape of this region varied greatly.

Mayan Calendar

The two main calendars that were developed and used by the Maya were the sacred calendar and the sacred round.These calendars are important achievements in mathematics and astronomy because they helped priests determine the best days to plant,hunt,cure,fight,and perform religious ceremonies.

Mayan Hieroglyphics

Writing system of the Maya's