The Maya

The Maya

I. Maya Create City-States

Homeland: southern Mexico into northern Central America (Yucatan Pen.)

A. Urban Centers

250-900 CE: the Classic Prd. of Maya civ.Built great cities

Tikal, Copan, Palenque, Uxmal, & Chichen Itza Ruled by god-kingCenters of religious ceremonies & trade Giant pyramids, temples, palaces

Temple IV pyramid (Tikal)

Hip ulama ball court Chichin Itza (545’ long, 225’ wide)WINNER?!

B. Ag. & Trade Support Cities

Mayan comms:Based on ag., handicrafts, & long-distance trade

Intensive Ag. = BASIS OF LIFE! –cleared (slash/burn), irrigated, terracedSquash, chili peppers, & maize (80% of food)

Maya city-states = linked by trade Metal work, cotton cloth, flintUsed currencies (cocoa beans, polished beads, salt, &

lengths of cotton)

C. Kingdoms Built on Dynasties

Maya social classes:Nobility (priests & warriors) = no laborMerchants & artisansPeasants = majority PRIEST KING (top)

Descendent of a godHereditary Govt. levied taxes & controlled outlying villages

• Also made war (stone-bladed weapons)

II. Religion in Mayan Life

Religion = permeated all phases of life Life = burden (time is a measure)

Need to appease the gods thru pain/suffering

ComplexWorshiped over 160 gods

• gods of corn, of death, of rain, of war

Could be good or evil (both) Each day was a living god

A. Religious Practices

Prayed, made offeringsPierced & cut bodies (nourish the gods) Human sacrificeThrew captives into deep sinkhole (“cenote”)

B. Math & Religion

Time = burden carried on back of gods Important to have accurate calendar

2 calendars:260 day religious calendar (thirteen 20 day mos.)365 day solar calendar (eighteen 20 day mos.) Identified best times to plant crops, attack enemies, crown

new rulers) Based on observation of planets (better than Euro.)Calculated solar year at 365.2420 days Math system based on #20 w/concept of zero

C. Mayan Written Language

Only complete writing system in Amers. 800 hieroglyphic symbols (glyphs) Recorded history in stone or bark-paper

Codex

Spanish documented Maya history “Popol Vuh” – Maya version of creation

Before the world was created, Calm and Silence were the great kings that ruled.

Nothing existed, there was nothing

III. Maya Architecture & Art

Plaza = pyramid topped w/templeReligious structures, tombs Temple I (Tikal) – tomb of Ha Sawa Chaan K’awil

Mural paintingStele – inscribed or carved marker

IV. Maya Decline

900 CE—abandoned cities (mystery) Toltec invaders moved inWhy did Maya decline?

1. internal conflict that disrupted trade = economic hardship?

2. over –farming of soil = food shortages, famine?3. peasant revolts?

Early 1500s—Maya were small, weak city-states