300-900 A.D.

300-900 A.D.

Yucatan Peninsula & Central America Settled in dense rain forests and cleared land for living and farming Chichén Itzá- Center of Mayan trade We don’t know much about Chichén Itzá Archeological evidence suggests collapse was violent Largest Mayan city- Tikal (modern day Guatemala)

Yucatan Peninsula & Central America

Settled in dense rain forests and cleared land for living and farming

Chichén Itzá- Center of Mayan trade

We don’t know much about Chichén Itzá

Archeological evidence suggests collapse was violent

Largest Mayan city- Tikal (modern day Guatemala)

Arranged into city-states Every city-state had a ruling chief Ruling chief usually a man though sometimes women served Nobles under the chief led the military, collected taxes, and enforced laws

Arranged into city-states

Every city-state had a ruling chief

Ruling chief usually a man though sometimes women served

Nobles under the chief led the military, collected taxes, and enforced laws

Traders – No carts or transportation, carried goods on back Traded honey, cocoa, and feathers Farming Method Cleared rainforests and created raised fields that caught rain water Channels drained excess water

Traders – No carts or transportation, carried goods on back

Traded honey, cocoa, and feathers

Farming Method

Cleared rainforests and created raised fields that caught rain water

Channels drained excess water

Polytheistic – Over 160 Gods God of Death God of Rain

Polytheistic – Over 160 Gods

Sacrifices took place on top of tall pyramids Sacrifice needed to keep order in the universe Three planes: underworld, sky, and earth Underworld reached through caves and ball courts No clear concept of good or bad – decided by season Suicides, sacrifices, women who died in childbirth, and warriors went straight to heaven

Sacrifices took place on top of tall pyramids

Sacrifice needed to keep order in the universe

Three planes: underworld, sky, and earth

Underworld reached through caves and ball courts

No clear concept of good or bad – decided by season

Suicides, sacrifices, women who died in childbirth, and warriors went straight to heaven

Chief at the top Considered god-like Moved on to sons – when sons born, blood sacrifice of chief’s blood To be king, have to take a captive and use captive as part of ceremonial sacrifice Ruling nobles

Chief at the top

Considered god-like

Moved on to sons – when sons born, blood sacrifice of chief’s blood

To be king, have to take a captive and use captive as part of ceremonial sacrifice

Ruling nobles

Priests – important because only they could perform religious ceremonies needed for success in war and good harvests Majority of Mayas were farmers – grew corn, beans and squash Men cultivated while women made food Paid taxes in food and helped build temples Beauty standards – skull deformation, piercings, and tattoos

Priests – important because only they could perform religious ceremonies needed for success in war and good harvests

Majority of Mayas were farmers – grew corn, beans and squash

Men cultivated while women made food

Paid taxes in food and helped build temples

Beauty standards – skull deformation, piercings, and tattoos

Hieroglyphs – just recently deciphered

Hieroglyphs – just recently deciphered

Books kept on bark Ball games Rubber ball – forbidden to use open hands or feet – usually used hips Captain of losing team or other members sometimes sacrificed

Books kept on bark

Ball games

Rubber ball – forbidden to use open hands or feet – usually used hips

Captain of losing team or other members sometimes sacrificed

Math Priests decided ceremony times Numbering system included zero

Math

Priests decided ceremony times

Numbering system included zero

Calendar 365 day solar calendar 260 day calendar based on the orbit of Venus

Calendar

365 day solar calendar

260 day calendar based on the orbit of Venus

Mayan 365 day calendar with 260 day calendar added

Around 900 A.D., Mayan cities abandoned – don’t know why Frequent warfare causes Mayans to abandon homes Overpopulation = over farming = abandoning homes Peasant revolts from heavy taxing

Around 900 A.D., Mayan cities abandoned – don’t know why

Frequent warfare causes Mayans to abandon homes

Overpopulation = over farming = abandoning homes

Peasant revolts from heavy taxing