Chapter 7 The Maya Civilization

Frederick Catherwood

a British artist who teamed up with John L. Stephens in 1839 and illustrated drawings of the Mayan buildings and temples in the jungle of Mexico.

What was an important tool when they were studying astronomy?

a complex series of calendars

Extended family

a grouping of several related families that lived together.

Drought

a prolonged period of little or no rainfall.

Mesoamerica

a region extending from central Mexico to northern Central America.

John L. Stephens

an American explorer who played a key role in the rediscovery of Maya civilization in 1839.

Alliance

an agreement between people or states to cooperate to achieve a common goal.

Sphere of influence

an area that is dominated by a particular ruler or government.

Sphere of influence-

an area that is dominated by a particular ruler or government.

What did the Mayans use as currency?

beans, beads, feathers

What was a geographic feature of the lowlands

climate: hot and dry soil: wet and green

What was the basic social unit of Maya civilization?

extended families

Slash and burn agriculture

farmers cleared small plots of land by cutting down the forest and burning the felled trees and plants to use as fertilizer.

What was their writing system mostly based on?

hieroglyph

Elite

is a small group of highly privileged or skilled people.

Hieroglyph

is a symbol that stands for a word idea, or sound.

Codex

is an ancient book that was written by hand.

Stela

is carved stone slab or pillar usually created to celebrate an event or person.

What materials did the Maya people use to build temples, palaces, and pyramids?

large stone blocks

What were the two main social groups in the classic period?

nobles, commoners

What kind of painting were lined on most of the buildings walls?

pictures of kings, gods, jaguars, and different sculptures

18 Rabbit

ruled Copan at its height. He was said to have brought together the greatest artists and architects of the time to create glorious monuments for his city.

Pacal

ruled the city of Palenque between A.D. 615 and 683. Pacal expanded the city's size and power.

What goods did traders from sea bring?

salt, dried fish, stingray, pearls, shells

What jobs did woman do?

stayed at home, raised children, tended gardens, maintained livestock, prepared food

Why did the Mayans go to war?

take captives, control trade routes, get more land

What did the Mayans understand way before the Europeans?

the concept of zero

What did the Mayas deeply worship?

the gods

What jobs did men do?

worked in fields, hunted, maintained buildings

What role did warfare play in Maya society?

In Maya society, warfare increased kings power and prestige. War was fought for trade routes, land, and for slaves. War was not uncommon and city states often attacked each other.

When did the Maya civilization end?

In the early 1500s

What did Maya astronomers and mathematicians accomplish?

Maya astronomers and mathematicians accomplished the concept of zero and the calendar. The astronomers used the stars, sun, and moon to create an advanced calendar. The mathematicians created a number system by using symbols.

How did Maya rulers combine political and religous power?

Maya rulers combined political and religious power by Maya city had its own King. Usually, the ruling family passed down the kingship from a father to his son. Believed they were descended from the gods. Maya rulers used their power and wealth to support the nobles, who served the city as officials and priests.

Why did the Mayas use slash-and-burn agriculture?

The Mayas used the slash and burn technique because the ashes from the burn was a great nutrient resource. Cleared space for more farming.

Why was the construction of Maya cities so difficult?

The construction of Maya cities were so difficult because they were so large and they created them by hand.

What were the main features of Maya cities?

The main features of Maya cities were their pyramids, temples, and palaces. Also they build public gathering places.

What were the two main social groups in Maya society?

The main social groups in Maya society were nobles and commoners.

What ordinary activities occupied the lives of men and woman in Maya farm families?

The ordinary activities that occupied the lives of men and women in Maya farm families were that men farmed, hunted, and maintained village buildings, while women stayed at home, raised children, tended gardens and livestock, and prepared food

How might the rainforest have affected the preservation of Maya cities?

The rain forest has affected preservation of Maya cities by covering it up and hiding it before someone can destroy it.

How were the two geographic regions of the Maya homeland different?

The two geographic regions of the Mayas homeland were different because it was located in the highlands in the south, this region had forested mountains and valleys and even some active volcanoes. In the north were the lowlands which had a huge rainforest which made it difficult to settle there. Also it was hot and flat. Both these regions had very different climates which made it hard to adjust.

Why was the writing system important for other Maya advances in learning?

The writing system was important for other Maya advances in learning because they could record their research and better understand calendars and other advancements.

How were Maya cities ruled?

Their kingdoms from palaces that were situated within the centre of their cities. Ruled by kings.

Who ruled other one individual city state?

A King of that area

Where is Mesoamerica located?

Central Mexico to Central America

Why was the ball game considered sacred?

Showed that a king of that city could please the gods and bring good fortune.

State three possible causes of the collapse of Maya civilization?

State three possible causes of the collapse of Maya civilization warfare, between the droughts/natural disasters and food loss.

Where did the Maya civilization develop?

The Maya civilization developed in Mesoamerica and near the Yucatan Peninsula.

When did Maya civilization reach its height?

The Maya civilization was at its peak in the classical period.

What kind of writing system did the Mayas have?

The Maya's writing system is very complex and consists of hieroglyphs.

What years was the Maya Preclassic Period?

1800 B.C.-250 A.D.

What years did the classic period happen?

250 A.D.- 900 A.D.

What were the characteristics of the maya civilization during the classical period?

Characteristics of the Mayans during the classical period was that they started building dozens of cities. Also they made stone pyramids, temples, and palaces. Most of the people lived outside the cities which were connected. Lastly they made the cities that included homes and a complex society.

How did the economic system contribute tot the Mayas not clustering cities?

How did the economic system contribute to the Mayans not clustering in cities? Slash and burn agriculture used vast amounts of land and required farmers to manoeuvre their farms every few years.