Mayans History Final Alex

Mayans HistoryMayans History

Presentation By Quoc Phan


When the When the OlmecOlmec rulers began to lose rulers began to lose

control of their country about 600 control of their country about 600 BCBC, ,

new leaders came forward and took new leaders came forward and took

over ruling in Central America (modern over ruling in Central America (modern

Guatamala). These were the Maya. Guatamala). These were the Maya.

Mayans HistoryMayans HistoryArchaeologists divide Maya Archaeologists divide Maya history into four time periods, the history into four time periods, the Pre-Classic, the Classic, and the Pre-Classic, the Classic, and the Post-Classic. Post-Classic.

The Pre-Classic period begins The Pre-Classic period begins about 700 BC, about the height of about 700 BC, about the height of the the Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empire in West Asia , in West Asia , or the or the EtruscansEtruscans in Italy . in Italy .

At this time, the Maya were At this time, the Maya were beginning to build stone temples beginning to build stone temples like the ones the Olmec had built like the ones the Olmec had built

before them.before them.


The Classic Maya period began The Classic Maya period began about 250 BC. During the Classic about 250 BC. During the Classic period, the Maya (MY-ah) built many period, the Maya (MY-ah) built many cities with stone buildings and many cities with stone buildings and many more stone temples.more stone temples.

People carved inscriptions on these People carved inscriptions on these temples, saying who had built them temples, saying who had built them and in what year.and in what year.


This is the first evidence of This is the first evidence of writing from North or South writing from North or South America , so it may be the America , so it may be the Maya who invented writing Maya who invented writing in this area.in this area. Around 900 Around 900 ADAD, though, , though, the Maya people the Maya people abandoned many of these abandoned many of these cities and temples, and cities and temples, and kept on with their kept on with their traditions mainly in the traditions mainly in the northern part of their northern part of their country, the northern country, the northern Yucatán. Yucatán. This would be about the This would be about the time of the Abbasid Empire time of the Abbasid Empire in West Asia. in West Asia.

This is the Mayans AlphabetThis is the Mayans Alphabet

Mayans HistoryMayans HistoryIn this Post-Classic period, after In this Post-Classic period, after about 900 AD, people mostly about 900 AD, people mostly stopped carving inscriptions. stopped carving inscriptions.

They kept on building some They kept on building some temples and other stone temples and other stone buildings, but they don't seem to buildings, but they don't seem to have been doing as well as they have been doing as well as they were in the Classic period.were in the Classic period.

In the Post-Classic period, the In the Post-Classic period, the Maya were more open to learning Maya were more open to learning from their neighbors, especially from their neighbors, especially the Aztec people to their north, in the Aztec people to their north, in

Mexico .Mexico .


In the end, however, the arrival of In the end, however, the arrival of Spanish invaders in 1519 AD Spanish invaders in 1519 AD brought smallpox and measles to brought smallpox and measles to the Maya, and most people died the Maya, and most people died of these diseases. of these diseases.

The few who survived could not The few who survived could not defend their country against the defend their country against the Spanish invaders, and so Central Spanish invaders, and so Central America was taken over by the America was taken over by the Spanish king. Spanish king.

Mayans History Final Alex

Economy & Finance

Transcript of Mayans History Final Alex