The Maya civilization developed highly advanced systems of agriculture, mathematics, astronomy, and architecture. Maya farmers grew corn and other crops in fields surrounding towering cities. During religious ceremonies, the narrator watches the king and priests preside from the top of a tall pyramid, wearing colorful feathers and gold, as thousands gather below to honor the gods. The ceremonies make the narrator feel connected to Maya traditions and spiritual beliefs.

1. Bell Ringer 4/4/16
You are a Maya farmer, growing corn in fields
outside a city. Often you enter the city to
join in religious ceremonies. You watch the
king and his priests standing at the top of a
tall pyramid. They wear capes of brightly
colored feathers and gold ornaments that
glitter in the sun. Far below them,
thousands of worshippers crowd into the
plaza with you to honor the gods.
How do these ceremonies make you feel?

2. objectives
• 7.69 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support the
analysis of the impacts of the Mesoamerican developments
in astronomy and mathematics, including the calendar, and
the Mesoamerican knowledge of seasonal changes to the
civilizations’ agricultural systems. (C, H)
• 7.65 Describe the highly structured social and political
system of the Maya civilization, ruled by kings and
consisting of agriculturally intensive centers around
independent city-states.

3. Predict

4. Agriculture
• The Maya inhabited
Mesoamerica.
• Around 1000 BC the Maya
began settling in the
lowlands of what is now
northern Guatemala. This
region is full of mostly
tropical rainforest- so people
cleared the land to farm
crops: beans, squash,
avocados, and maize (corn)
• They used their vast
collection of wood to build.

5. The Classic Age
• By 200 AD, the Maya had
begun to build large cities
in Mesoamerica, mostly
within the ___________
Peninsula. It reached its
height between AD 250-
900.
• The cities were really city
states. Each had its own
government and its own
king.
– What are city states?

6. Mayan Cities
• Trade held the Maya civilization together and
through trade, they got supplies for construction.
– palaces decorated with carvings and paintings
– stone pyramids topped with temples (temples
honored kings)
• The city of Palenque built a temple to honor the
king Pacal's achievement.
• Answer the Analysis Skills question on page 471.

7. builders
• Maya also built canals
and paved large plazas
(open squares for
public gatherings)
• Farmers used stone
walls to shape hillside
into flat terraces s0
they could grow crops.
• They also played
games in a stone
court!

8. Social Structure
• King- held highest
position- believed to be
related to the gods
• Priests, merchants, and
noble warriors were also
upper class - They all held
the power in society
• lower class – farmers
(most of population)
• Slaves

9. Farmers- lower class
• Women cared for their children, cooked, made
yarn, and wove cloth
• Men farmed, hunted, and crafted tools
– They had to pay their rulers by giving them crops,
tools, and salt
• The men would also go to battle if needed
– If they were captured in battle they would become
slaves

10. RELIGION
• The Maya worshipped many gods:
– Creator
– Sun god
– Moon goddess
– Maize god
• Why would pleasing the gods be such an
important part of their daily life?
• On special occasions they would make human
sacrifices

11. Achievements
• The religious beliefs of the
Maya led them to make
advances in science. They
built observatories so their
priest could watch the stars
and plan the best time for
festivals.
• With the knowledge they
gained about astronomy
they made two calendars!
What do you know about
the calendars??

13. Calendar
• One had 365 days on it –
this guided planting,
harvesting, and other
farming activities. This
calendar was more
accurate than the calendar
of the Europeans at the
time.
• They also had a separate
240 day calendar that they
used to tracking of religious
events.

14. Mathematics
• They could measure time accurately because
they were skilled mathematicians
• They created a number system that helped
them make complex calculations
• They were among the first to have a symbol
for the number zero
• They used the numbers to record dates in
their history.

15. Writing System
• They also developed a writing system – it was
similar to Egyptian hieroglyphics, because
symbols represented both objects and sound.
• They would carve them in stone tablets
• They also wrote in bark paper books and passed
down books and poems by mouth

16. Decline
• Maya civilization began
to collapse in the 900s
• People stopped building
structures and buildings
• They left the cities and
went back to the
countryside.
• Predict- what do you
think caused this
collapse?

17. theories
• Historians are not really sure!
• One factor may have been the burden of the
common people- the kings forced these
people to work and farm. Maybe people
didn’t want to work for the kings- they may
have decided to rebel against their rulers and
leave the cities!

18. theories
• Increased warfare between cities could have
also caused people to leave. The cities always
fought for power- people could have fled the
cities for safety!

19. theories
• Maybe the Maya could not produce enough
food to feed everyone. Growing the crops year
after year weakens the soil – and the
population continued to grow
• Climate change could have also been a factor
because many droughts were occurring – so
people could have left the cities

20. recap
1. Describe Maya’s classical age.
2. What were the achievements of the Maya?
3. How was the Maya social structure set up?
4. How did the roles of men and women differ in
the Maya society?

21. TASK
• You are a Mayan living during the Mayan times.
Look at the pictures on pages 470- 471. Use the
information you gained today and in the section of
the pictures. Also use your historical imagination!
• Write a narrative based on the picture and the
information.
– What role are you in society (social structure).
– What achievements did you all accomplish?
– What do you think will happened to your civilization
(use the theories we discussed).

22. Architecture
• The Mayan also had amazing architecture