Maya Science and Daily Maya Science and Daily LifeLife

Mrs. AllredMrs. Allred

55thth Grade Grade

An Interesting FindAn Interesting Find

In 1984 , archaeologists discovered a In 1984 , archaeologists discovered a jar in a Guatemalan dig. This jar could jar in a Guatemalan dig. This jar could not be pulled loose.not be pulled loose.

They eventually removed it by They eventually removed it by twisting.twisting.

The ancient Maya had invented screw-The ancient Maya had invented screw-top lids!top lids!

What does this small find tell us about What does this small find tell us about the Maya people? the Maya people?

Writing SystemWriting System

The Maya Civilization developed a The Maya Civilization developed a system of writing based on glyphssystem of writing based on glyphs Picture symbols that expressed thoughts Picture symbols that expressed thoughts

and ideas rather than on an alphabet of and ideas rather than on an alphabet of letters.letters.

What are some other civilizations What are some other civilizations that use picture symbols?that use picture symbols?

Maya CalendarsMaya Calendars

The Maya calculated that there were The Maya calculated that there were 365.2420 days in a year without 365.2420 days in a year without special tools.special tools.

Modern astronomers, using the latest Modern astronomers, using the latest technology, measure that year at technology, measure that year at 365.2422 days.365.2422 days.

Maya Solar CalendarMaya Solar Calendar

Maya calendar was based on the sun.Maya calendar was based on the sun. It has 18 months with names like It has 18 months with names like PopPop and and Zip.Zip.

1. Why was it important for 1. Why was it important for Maya priests to develop a Maya priests to develop a

calendar?calendar?

The priests needed to measure time The priests needed to measure time to figure out when to hold religious to figure out when to hold religious ceremonies.ceremonies.

Sacred RoundSacred Round

260-day calendar that astronomers 260-day calendar that astronomers produced. produced.

This was used to keep track of This was used to keep track of religious holidays and other religious holidays and other important events.important events.

2. What was the Sacred Round?2. What was the Sacred Round?

The Sacred Round was a 260-day The Sacred Round was a 260-day calendar that kept track of important calendar that kept track of important religious holidays.religious holidays.

Inventing ZeroInventing Zero

Invented a powerful system of number Invented a powerful system of number symbols.symbols.

A dot stood for one. A bar stood for five. A dot stood for one. A bar stood for five. A shell stood for zero.A shell stood for zero. The Maya used the symbol for zero (shell) The Maya used the symbol for zero (shell)

as a placeholder as a placeholder Ex. 201 or 20Ex. 201 or 20

The Maya were among the first in the The Maya were among the first in the World to discover the concept of zero.World to discover the concept of zero.

3. What contribution did the 3. What contribution did the Maya make to mathematics?Maya make to mathematics?

They developed a system of number They developed a system of number symbols. They used a symbol as a symbols. They used a symbol as a placeholder and were among the first placeholder and were among the first people in the world to develop the people in the world to develop the concept of zero.concept of zero.

Astronomy and TemplesAstronomy and Temples

Temples were built in such a way that the sun Temples were built in such a way that the sun would shine directly on the most important would shine directly on the most important part of the temple on important days.part of the temple on important days.

In ChichIn Chichén Itzá, on the spring equinox and the én Itzá, on the spring equinox and the fall equinox, the rising sun shines on a statue fall equinox, the rising sun shines on a statue of a serpent at the base of the pyramid. As of a serpent at the base of the pyramid. As the sun rises, the serpent slithers done the the sun rises, the serpent slithers done the stairs of the pyramidstairs of the pyramid Equinox: one of the two days in a year when there Equinox: one of the two days in a year when there

is an equal amount of daytime and nighttime. is an equal amount of daytime and nighttime.

4 How did the Maya use their 4 How did the Maya use their knowledge of astronomy to locate knowledge of astronomy to locate their temples? Give an example.their temples? Give an example.

The sun shone directly on the most The sun shone directly on the most important part of the temple. For important part of the temple. For example, at Chichexample, at Chichén Itzá, on the én Itzá, on the equinoxes, the sun shone on a statue equinoxes, the sun shone on a statue of a serpent.of a serpent.

How the Maya People LivedHow the Maya People Lived

Maya people were farmers.Maya people were farmers. The main crop was corn. They also grew The main crop was corn. They also grew

beans, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beans, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and pumpkins.and pumpkins.

Farmers lived in one-room huts made Farmers lived in one-room huts made out of mud and grass.out of mud and grass.

Men/boys farmed. Women/girls cooked, Men/boys farmed. Women/girls cooked, cleaned, and made clothing and pottery. cleaned, and made clothing and pottery.

BabiesBabies

Maya people thought that being slightly Maya people thought that being slightly crossed eyes was a sign of physical beauty.crossed eyes was a sign of physical beauty. Mothers hung a bead from a baby’s nose to help Mothers hung a bead from a baby’s nose to help

develop that condition.develop that condition. They also thought a flat head was a sign of They also thought a flat head was a sign of

beauty.beauty. Strapped newborn babies to a board on their Strapped newborn babies to a board on their

back. The board would flatten the baby’s soft back. The board would flatten the baby’s soft skull, giving the child the desired look.skull, giving the child the desired look.

Coming of AgeComing of Age

At age 5, children began to help with chores.At age 5, children began to help with chores. Boys had a white bead braided into his hair.Boys had a white bead braided into his hair. Girls had a string tied to the waist with a red shell Girls had a string tied to the waist with a red shell

attached.attached. At age 14, an initiation ceremony was At age 14, an initiation ceremony was

performed to mark their passage to performed to mark their passage to adulthood.adulthood. Priest would cut the bead from the boys hair and Priest would cut the bead from the boys hair and

a girl’s mother would cut the string from her a girl’s mother would cut the string from her daughter’s waist.daughter’s waist.

Celebrate with family and neighbors.Celebrate with family and neighbors.

MarriagesMarriages

Marriages were arranged and more Marriages were arranged and more like business deals between families.like business deals between families.

Priests were consulted before a Priests were consulted before a marriage date was set.marriage date was set.

Priests consulted the stars and gods Priests consulted the stars and gods to find a day that would bring good to find a day that would bring good fortune.fortune.

Where Did the Maya People Where Did the Maya People Go?Go?

Maya kept careful historical records Maya kept careful historical records up until the 900s.up until the 900s.

In the 900s, the writing mysteriously In the 900s, the writing mysteriously stopped and temples fell into stopped and temples fell into disrepair.disrepair.

Archaeologists have theories, but Archaeologists have theories, but can’t find anything that would prove can’t find anything that would prove any of them are correct.any of them are correct. Civil War, Disease, Disaster, etc…Civil War, Disease, Disaster, etc…

Whatever the cause, the once great Whatever the cause, the once great Maya cities were abandoned and Maya cities were abandoned and swallowed up by the jungle. The swallowed up by the jungle. The Maya scattered. But the people Maya scattered. But the people themselves did not disappear themselves did not disappear completely. Today, millions still completely. Today, millions still speak languages derived from speak languages derived from ancient Maya. ancient Maya.

5. What happened to the Maya?5. What happened to the Maya?

No one knows for sure what No one knows for sure what happened to the Maya. It could have happened to the Maya. It could have been a civil war, deadly disease, been a civil war, deadly disease, invaders, famine or earthquake.invaders, famine or earthquake.