Transcript Mayan Kings and Cities

Mayan Kings and Cities (300-1200 AD)
• In the early centuries A.D., the Maya built an
extraordinary civilization in the heart of
Mesoamerica
Environment
• Dry, scrub forest of the Yucatan
• Dense jungles of SE Mexico
• N Guatemala
Urban Centers
• City States each ruled by a god-king
• 50 major cities (Tikal, Copan, Chichen Itza)
Urban Centers cont.
• Giant pyramids, temples, palaces, stone
carvings, ball court, areas (influenced by the
Olmecs)
Urban Center at Tikal
Ball court
• Two different courts:
• 1. Two slanted sides that slope upward from the
center of the court
• 2. I-shaped playing area with two upright walls
perpendicular to the playing floor. At the top of
these walls are stone rings that are about 20 feet
high, four feet in diameter, and have a one-foot,
seven-inch hole in the middle. These rings are
also perpendicular to the ground.
Ball Game
• The balls weighed about 9 pounds and were made of tough rubber.
• There were two teams and no one was allowed to touch the ball with
their hands or feet. (used head, elbows, knees and hips)
• When playing on the courts with slanted sides, it is believed that the
object was to keep the ball in motion. The object of the game when
played on the court with upright walls is supposedly to get the ball
through the hoop.
• During wars, some battles are believed to have been won by playing
the ball game. The losing team could be killed or the captain.
Economy
• Traded salt, flint, feathers, shells, honey
• City states linked by trade and alliances
• Used cacao beans (chocolate)
Economy cont
• Farmers-maize, beans, squash
• Farmers used slash and burn, terraces and
raised planting beds above swamp
Social Structure
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Mayan King-heredity (holy figure)
Noble class (priests and warriors)
Middle class (merchants and artisans)
Lower class- Peasants (majority of people)
Importance of Religion
• Maya believe in many gods, who could be good,
evil, or both
• Each day is a god whose behavior could be
predicted with calendars
Religion
• Polytheistic (Gods could be evil, good, or both.)
• Offered gods food, flowers, incense, blood to nourish
gods
• Human sacrifice-usually captured enemies but not as
many and as often as Aztecs
Religion continued
• Blood letting
• Pierce their bodies with sharp needles and offer
blood to gods
Gods
• Chaac-god of thunder
and rain (below) and
Kukulcan-winged god
or feathered serpent
(right)
Achievements
• Calendars (2): one was religious
(260 days), one solar (365 days)
• Used calendars to find best days
for life activities
• World created in 3114 B.C
• End of world scheduled Dec. 23,
2012
Achievements cont.
• Math (based on 20); used
in concept of zero
• Used primarily for calendar
and astronomical work, not
to count people or objects
Achievements cont.
• Astronomy
• Based their calendar
on careful
observations of the
planets, sun, moon
Achievements cont.
• Writing system (800 glyphs-85% deciphered)
• Codex (bark book)
• Popol Vuh (creation story)
Codex
What explanations do historians offer
for the disappearance of Mayan citystates?
• By late 800s, Maya abandon cities; cause for
abandonment unknown
• War with city-states?
• Disruption of trade?
• Overfarming and food shortages?
• Famine?
• Disease?
• By 1500s, Maya live in small, weak city-states
Connections Across Time and Cultures
• 1. In the Old Kingdom, pharaohs ruled as gods.
Egyptian government was a theocracy in which
the pharaoh bore full responsibility for Egypt’s
government, army, and religion. How does this
system of government compare with that
established by the Maya?
• The Maya created independent city-states, which
served as both religious and administrative
centers and were ruled by god-kings. Maya
dynasties, viewed as holy, ruled over each citystates.
• 2. Both ancient Egyptians and the Maya built
great pyramids and temples. For what reasons
were these structures built? What does the
building of such massive public monuments
reveal about each civilization?
• Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids as tombs
for their kings, who were viewed as ruling after
death, and the temples to honor their many
deities. The Maya built giant pyramids and
temples to honor their gods, important rulers,
and warriors. Both civilizations had the
organization, leadership, engineering skills, and
economic and human resources to support large
public works projects.
• 3. Egyptian society formed a pyramid made up
of royalty at the top, a large peasant class at the
base, and an upper and middle class. How was
Maya society structured?
• Similarly, with the king at the top followed by a
noble class, merchant class, and peasant
majority.
• 4. Egyptian innovations included writing, a
system of measurement and numbers, and a
calendar. How do Maya achievements compare
with those of ancient Egypt? What do these
cultural and technological developments reveal
about the Egyptians and the Maya?
• The Maya developed a writing system using
hieroglyphic symbols, a calendar, astronomy,
and a numerical system. These innovations
reflected the need in both societies for accurate
measurements and recordkeeping in
government, religion, and economics.
• 5. In what other ways were ancient Egyptian
and Maya civilizations similar?
• Both developed sophisticated farming methods
and prospered through trade.
• 6. What factors do you think might account for
the similarities between the two civilizations?
• Although they flourished at different historical
periods and in different environments, the two
civilizations had reached similar stages of
development. Similar polytheistic beliefs and
the practical needs of highly complex societies
led to advances in math, technology, and
writing.