The Mayans originated in Central America, migrating from Asia during the last Ice Age. They had a complex religious system that involved sacrificing humans and animals to appease various gods. The Mayans developed an accurate calendar and understood astronomy, mapping the movements of celestial bodies. They built elaborate cities and pyramid temples precisely oriented based on astronomical observations. The Mayans also had an advanced mathematical system that included the concept of zero. Their art incorporated stone carvings, pottery, and paintings. A dangerous ball game called Pok-a-Tok was played for religious and political purposes, sometimes with the losers being sacrificed.

1. MAYAN CULTURE By NIAYA NIX & TIFFANY O.

2. Origin of the Mayans Most Archaeologists believe that the first ancestors of the Mayans crossed the frozen land bridge from Asia to the Americas during the last Ice Age. From their the Mayans ancestors could have migrated South until reaching what is now Belize and followed a nomadic way of life until permanently settling there. By Niaya Nix

3. Mayan religion The Mayans worshipped many nature, weather, war and death gods, some good, some evil or both. Each day was to honor a different god and certain activities would be restricted because of this. To appease the war like gods, men, woman, children and even animals we’re sacrificed. The victim would be stripped, painted blue then sacrificed on a blue altar. The most common types of sacrifice were decapitation or/and the removal of the beating heart from a sacrifices body while their limbs were held down. Sometimes other methods such as death by arrows, being burned to death or thrown down a natural well while still alive where used. The sacrifices took place during elaborate public ceremonies held in courtyards or on temples. If the sacrifice took place on top of a temple the victims body would be thrown down the temple stairs and further mutilated by having its skin, hands and feet removed . If the victim was a brave warrior he would be eaten. Victims we’re sometimes losers of ballgames but most of the times prisoners of war. Ritual blood letting was also used to appease the gods. By Niaya Nix

4. Mayan Calendar/Astronomy The Mayan calendar began based on the start of their civilization. There were two calendars. One sacred and the other a vague calendar. The solar used calendar measured 365 days making a year. The last 5 days of the solar calendar were said to be unlucky. There were 18 months and each were 20 days long. The sacred calendar was used for religious purposes and to name their kids. This calendar measured 260 days a year. There were 13 months a year and they were each 20 days long. The Mayans were able to figure how many days there are in a year using the sun. Where they were located they watched the sun rise and set. They were south of latitude. By Tiffany O. By Tiffany O

5. Mayan Architecture The Mayans built their cities and temples using mainly astronomy. Their cities were planned out and their major temples were made to form a perfect isosceles triangle. Classic pyramids were made faced towards each other. The temples were built on top of pyramids and each temple was made for a different deity. By Tiffany O. By Tiffany O

6. Mayan Math The Mayans were not the first to use math. Their math system began with zero. The symbol for zero was a shell, for 1 was a dot, for 5 was a bar. They had a vigesimal and decimal systems. The vigesimal system is combining the number of fingers and toes which they counted as 19 {0 – 19} They started from zero making it twenty counts. They then turn the 20 into units( making it 20 units). Ex: 1, 20, 400, 8000. The decimal system is the number of all the fingers. Starting their count from zero; they reached the number 9.{ 0 – 9}. There were 10 counts. This was now 10 units. Ex: 1, 10, 100. 1000. By Tiffany O.

7. Mayan Food The main parts of the Mayan diet consisted of Squash, corn, and beans. Avocados, papayas, guava, breadnut and many other fruits and vegetables were also eaten. Chilies were used to add spice to bland tasting beans. Deer, wild boar, rabbit, armadillo, turkeys, fish and many other animals we’re hunted for their meat. By Niaya Nix

8. Mayan Art The materials that the Mayans used to make their art consisted of stone, bones, clay, jade and obsidian. The Mayans also carved wood. They liked to use metal, but because there was only a limited amount of metal, it was only used for ornaments. Many artist appeared to be of a noble stature. Mayan kings had their palaces filled with art. They painted cups and vases with scenes of court life. By Tiffany O.

9. Pok-A-Tok: The Deadly Mayan Ball Game Pok-A-Tok is a deadly game that was created by the Olmecs and adapted by the Mayans. Pok-A-Tok is played by trying to kick a rubber ball about the size of a basketball into stone rings several feet in the air. The use of hands is not allowed and players are expected to use their whole body (with the exception of their hands) to get the ball in the ring. The Court sizes wary, the largest one ever found was almost 459 ft by 114 ft.It was so hard to get the ball in the ring that sometimes the game ended when the ball hit the ground. If the whole team or just the Leader of the losing team would be decapitated is unclear. Priests would attend the games because the court was seen as the heavens/underworld and the ball, the sun. BY Niaya Nix

10. Bibliography Tiffany’s Bibliography -www.mayacalendar.com -www.google.com -www. authenticmaya.com Niaya’s Bibliography -Http://www.ancientsites.com/aw/Article/726643 -www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/.../mayanballgame.htm -http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/3boltonmayafluency1a.htm -http://www.religionfacts -http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/3boltonmayafluency1a.htmhttp://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/3boltonmayafluency1a.htm