Ancient Mayan
Civilization
By: Liz, Hoa, Dung, Eclipse, Sang
Timeline of important events
2600 B.C. The Mayan Civilization Started.
2. 400 A.D. The Maya highlands fall under the domination of
Teotihuacn, and the disintegration of Maya culture and language
begins in some parts of the highlands.
3. 1910 A.D. The Mexican Revolution begins.
Map
The Mayan Temple
The Mayan temples were built the honor
the gods that they believed in. For
example Itza was built for the feathered
serpent god.
Economic System
The jobs ranged anywhere from teachers to cloth makers.Most of the jobs the Maya
had, we still have today. One of themany reasons having many jobs in the
civilization was because it helped themout a lot.Ithelped them because they would
have more resourcesto sell which made the civilization wealthy. Cocobeans, copper
bells, marine shells, jade beads were used as exchange media, although calling them
"currency" is a bit strong, since the production of any of them wasn't controlled by a
specific government.
Wide variety of technical developments of the Maya include the fabrication of tools
that are harder than iron; the invention of high strength durable materials of
construction including the fabrication of hydraulic cement for producing cast-in-place
concrete; long-span bridges, and advanced water management methodologies that
permitted the Maya urban civilization to survive in a seasonal desert environment.
Transportation for the Mayans was a downfall. The Mayans had almost no
ways of transportation. Mayans didn't have heavy duty animals such as oxen
or donkeys to ride or to carry trade goods since they didn't have them, they
couldn't make chariots to ride in. So most Mayans would walk or run to
destinations. To deliver trade goods the Mayans would use slaves. Slaves
would deliver the trade goods on foot to their locations. But in some parts of
the Mayan civilization people used Canoes. These Canoes are great when
delivering trade goods across rivers or lakes. But mostly Mayans would deliver
goods on foot.
The Maya had a fairly extensive trade network, with obsidian, jade,
serpentine, feathers, and ceramic vessels being traded throughout
Mesoamerica. Trade connections were established with Olmecand
Teotihuacan; there were markets in most of the cities.
Belief system
Maya religious beliefs are formed on the notion that
virtually everything in the world contains kuh, or
sacredness.
They believe in the god Itzamn, Kukulcn (Quetzalcatl),
Bolon Tzacab, Chac.
They had practices such as Astronomy, divination, human
sacrifice, elaborate burial for royalty, worship in stone
pyramid-temples.
Kukulcan Stone pyramid-
temples
Political system
Ancient Mayan gorvorment was formed on the basis that rulers were thought
to have been god-like, which to some might suggest one unified state.
The kings were Balaj Chan Kawiil, Ha Kin Xook,Itzam Kan Ahk II,
The Ancient Maya were never united under one ruler or empire, but instead
were divided into multiple states in which most had its own central
government and were ruled as a state system, with the king as the main ruler
Rulers could assert their status as king or lord on Ajaw or Ahau (lord) day.
Kings would have an effigy of themselves carved on the Sacred Round. The
Sacred Round was a 260 day calendar which consisted of 13 20-day months.
Each day of the month was represented by a specific god; Ahau day was
specifically for kingly rituals. Once a king had achieved the honor of being on
the Sacred Round, the depiction became an actual personification of the king
and time.
Social System
There are 5 classes, Halach Uinic, Batabs, Priesthood,
Ppolms and Peasants.
Women carried out all of the domestic duties within a
Mayan household. Daily tasks included the rising of
children, preparing food, raising household animals and
making clothing and other textiles. Women also created
various craft item such as ceramics, either for household
use or for trade. Man were not expected to perform any of
these domestic duties.
Each city had a ruling family. That family lived a life of
luxury. Rulers held hereditary positions. Sons inherited their
right to rule from their fathers. The only way a new ruling
family could take over would be by war. This is one reason
fights and wars between Maya cities were common.
Art and Leisure
Leisure activities: carving statue, making pillars, playing
Mesopotamian ball game.
Works Cited Slide
www.ancient.eu/Maya_Civilization/
www.ancientscripts.com/maya.html
www.ancient.eu/Maya_Religion/
mayas.mrdonn.org/socialstructure.htm
Writing System
The writing system was named Mayan Glyphs or Mayan hieroglyphs.
