Ancient Mayans

What happened to the Mayan civilization?

The Mayan civilization collapsed between 800 and 900AD, probably because of drought and famine. The Mayan people are still around, but their way of life changed forever.

How did the Mayans feed themselves?

The Mayan people were also skilled farmers. In order to farm, they had to clear huge sections of tropical rain forest. Groundwater was scarce in these areas, so they had to build large underground reservoirs to store the rainwater.

Were the Mayans artists?

The Mayas wove beautiful fabrics and designed musical instruments like horns, drums and castanets. They also carved huge statues. Archaeologists can tell a great deal about the ancient Maya from their wonderful pottery and clay figures. The art they created honored their leaders, gods, and their daily life.

What technologies did the Mayans develop?

The Ancient Maya developed the science of astronomy, calendar systems and hieroglyphic writing. They were also known for creating elaborate ceremonial architecture, such as pyramids, temples, palaces and observatories. These structures were all built without metal tools.

Was everyone equal in Mayan society?

The Ancient Maya society was divided into classes. At the top were the nobles and priests. Their middle class was made up of warriors, craftsmen and traders. The farmers, workers and slaves were at the bottom.

How long have the Mayans been around?

The Ancient Mayan lived in the Yucatán around 2600 B.C. Today, this area is southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize and western Honduras. By 250 A.D., the Ancient Maya were at their peak of power.

Were the Mayans religious?

The Ancient Mayans were a very religious people. Mayan actions were based on rituals and ceremonies. The Maya had many different gods. They also had rituals. One of those rituals was human sacrifice.

Were the Mayans an empire?

The Maya had no central king ruling their society. Instead, there were as many as 20 separate areas, similar to ancient Greek city-states. Each major city had its own ruler and noble class supported by smaller cities and the surrounding farms and villages.

Did the Mayans write? Why was their written language forgotten?

The Maya writing system was made up of 800 glyphs. Some of the glyphs were pictures and others represented sounds. They contained information on history, medicine, astronomy, and their religion. The Spanish missionaries burned all but four of these books (and many of the authors)!

What crafts did they create?

. The Maya were skilled weavers and potters. They also cleared routes through jungles and swamps to create trade routes. This allowed them to sell and trade the goods they had made for goods they needed.