The Maya. I. Maya Create City-States Homeland: southern Mexico into northern Central America...
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Transcript of The Maya. I. Maya Create City-States Homeland: southern Mexico into northern Central America...
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