16.2 notes
What did the Mayans believe about time?
Time was a burden carried on the back of a god; at the end of the day, month or year one god would lay the burden down and another would pick it up; the day would be lucky or unlucky depending on the nature of the god
What other civilization areas were eventually incorporated into the Aztec area
Toltec; Teotihuacan;
What did the glyphs stand for ?
Whole words or syllables
What type of agriculture did the Mayans practice?
slash and burn agriculture
Why was it important to have an accurate calendar?
In order to know which god was in charge of the day
Why did the Mayans decline ?
Increase warfare between city-states; disrupted trade and produced economic hardship; over farming led to food shortages, famine and disease
How were the important Mayan sites ruled ?
Independent city-state; ruled by god-king; serving a center for religious ceremonies and trade
How were the Mayan city-states linked
Independent city-states; linked thru alliances and trade;
What was Tikal ?
Major center in northern Guatemala; built during the Classical period
Did the Mayan have a uniform currency and if not what was used as currency ?
Maya did not have a uniform currency; Cacoa or chocolate beans were sometimes used as currency
Who influenced the Mayan civilization?
The Olmec people
What did the calendars help identify?
The best times to plant crops, attack enemies and crown new rulers
What did Mayan religious beliefs lead to ?
The development of the calendar, mathematics and astronomy
What happens to throne when the Mayan king dies ?
The throne is passed on to his eldest son; the others are expected to join the priesthood
How many site did archeologists identify ?
50 major Mayan sites; monumental architecture;
What did the Mayan writing consist of ?
800 hieroglyphics symbols or glyphs
What is Popol Vuh?
A book that recounts the Highland Mayas version of the story of creation.
What did the Mayas develop
A highly complex civilization based on city-states and elaborate religious practices.
What provided the basis for Mayan life?
Agricultural; growing of maize, beans and squash
What did each Mayan city feature and why was it important?
Ball court; religious and political significance; Mayan believed the playing of this game would maintain the cycles of the sun and the moon and bring life giving rains.
What are codex ?
Bark-paper books used to record important events
What was the numerical system used for?
Calendar and astronomical work
Describe the Mayan king ?
Sat at top of class structure; regarded as a holy figure; his position was hereditary;
What symbols did the Mayans use for their math system?
Shell symbol for zero; dots for numbers one to four; Bar for five
What area is included in the Mayan homeland ?
Stretch's from southern Mexico to northern Central America; includes highland and lowland regions; includes dry scrub forest; steamy jungles, mountains
Which civilization occupied the Yucatán peninsula?
The Maya civilization
How was the Mayan calendar so precise ?
The Mayan astronomers used a math system with the concept of zero
What are the 4 social classes in the Maya society?
1. Maya king 2. noble class - leading warriors and priests 3. Merchants and skilled artisans 4. peasant majority
What is cenote?
Deep sinkhole lake; captives were thrown into with gold, jade and other offerings
What did Mayans believe about each day ?
Each day was a living god; that gods behavior could be predicted with the help of a system of calendars
What is slash and burn agriculture?
Farmers clear land by burning existing vegetation; planting crops in the ashes
When is the Classic period of Mayan civilization?
From AD 250 to 900
What did Mayan cities feature?
Giant pyramids, temples, palaces; elaborate stone carvings dedicated to gods and important rulers
What did Mayans believe about human sacrifice?
Human sacrifice of captured enemies; pleased the gods; kept the world in balance
What did Mayans use their writing system to record?
Important historical events;
Who developed the most advanced writing system in ancient Americas ?
Mayans
What new evidence points to the Mayans using a different agriculture method ?
More sophisticated methods; planting on raised beds above swamps and on hillside terraces
What was the Maya calendar based on ?
On the observation of the planets, sun and moon;
What type of gods did the Mayans believe in ?
Polytheism- many gods; gods of corn, death, rain and war; gods were associated with different directions and different colors; gods could be good or evil or both
How did the Mayans worship their gods?
Prayed; Made offerings of food, flowers and incense; pierced and cut their bodies and offered their blood believing it would nourish the gods; human sacrifices
How many calendars did the Mayans develop and how ere they linked?
Religious calendar; solar calendar; linked together like mesh gears; any given day could be identified in both cycles
What did the Mayan city-states trade?
Salt, flint, feathers, shells and honey; craft goods, cotton textiles and jade ornaments