The ancient Maya

civilization occupied
the eastern third of
Mesoamerica,
primarily the Yucatan
Peninsula.
They also occupied
the tropical lands of
what is now
Guatemala, reaching
the peak of its power
and influence around
VI c. A.D.

LOWLANDS:
The southern
portion of the
Lowlands was
covered by a
rain forest.
The northern
one was also
comprised of
forests but
they were
drier than
their southern
lowlands

HIGLANDS:
The volcanic
highlands,
however, were
the source of
jade and other
precious
metals like
cinnabar and
hematite that
the Mayans
used to trade.

The Maya made

significant advances
in mathematics and
astronomy, including
the use of the zero
and the development
of a complex
calendar system
based on 365 days.

Mayan elaborate a system of writing to record the

transition of power through the generations. It was
composed of recorded inscriptions on stone and
wood. Besides, they used hieroglyphs, formed by a
combination of different signs and pictures.

THE ART OF THE MAYA IS A REFLECTION

OF THEIR LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE.

The art was mainly painting (upon paper and

plaster), and sculpture in wood and stone.

The technical
process of
metal working
was also highly
developed
although they
only created
ornaments in
this media.

THEY LEFT AN GREAT AMOUNT OF

ARCHITECTURE AND SYMBOLIC ARTWORK

Excavations of Maya sites have unearthed squares,

palaces, temples and pyramids, and courts for
playing ball games that were ritually and politically
significant to Mayan culture.

The Classic Maya built many of their temples

and palaces in a stepped pyramid shape,
decorating them with elaborate reliefs and
inscriptions.

The Maya were deeply religious, and worshiped

various gods related to nature, including the gods
of the sun, the moon, rain and corn.

Offerings serve to
establish and
renew relations
('contracts', 'pacts',
or 'covenants') with
the other world.
The forms sacrifice
might take vary
considerably. There
is an overall
emphasis on the
sprinkling of blood,
especially turkeys,
beside of human
beings, adults as
well as children.

At the top of Maya society were the KINGS, or kuhul

ajaw that were mediators between the gods and people
on earth.
The NOBLE CLASS was complex and specialized. Nobles
served as rulers, government officials, military leaders,
etc. They lived in the central areas of Maya cities.
COMMONERS worked as farmers, laborers, servants,
artisans and merchants. Commoners were forbidden from
wearing the clothes and symbols of nobility and lived
outside the central areas of towns and cities.
The Maya had a system of SERFDOM AND SLAVERY. Serfs
typically worked lands that belonged to the local town
leader. There was an slave trade in the Maya region, and
commoners were permitted to have slaves.

The Ancient Maya civilization had an advanced

TRADE SYSTEM consisting of short, medium and
long trade routes and a robust market for a range
of goods and materials.

Mayan cities were surrounded and supported by a large

population of farmers. Though the Maya practiced a
primitive type of slash-and-burn agriculture, they also
displayed evidence of more advanced farming methods,
such as irrigation and terracing.

While the Maya cities began to grow, they increased their

food production and food trade.
Other basic necessities, such as salt or stone tools, were
produced in certain areas and then traded to places that
lacked them.

Some coastal communities were involved in the short-range

trade of fish and other seafood.

OBSIDIAN was a
precious mineral.
Obsidian, or volcanic
glass, was available at
a handful of sites in
the Maya world.

Obsidian was mainly

used for sculptures,
adornments, weapons
and rituals.

THE MAYA DESIRED SOME

UNNATURAL PHYSICAL
CHARACTERISTICS FOR THEIR
CHILDREN?

At very young age boards were

pressed on babies foreheads to create
a flattened surface. This process was
widespread among the upper class.

Another practice was to cross babies

eyes. To do this, objects were dangled in
front of a newborns eyes, until the
newborns eyes were completely and
permanently crossed.
The Maya filed their teeth to make
them pointy and created holes
that they filled with jade.

THE MAYA BALLGAME (POK-A-TOK) WAS

PLAYED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS
AND HAD GREAT RELIGIOUS
SIGNIFICANCE?

Game playitself is thought to have been so violent.

Contact with the ball
was limited. Any body
part, except the hands
and feet, was allowed. In
addition, the ball was
not allowed to touch the
ground.
The rings were
positioned on opposite
walls, about 25 feet
above the playing field.
The ball(made of rubber)
had to be bounced off
the wall in order to enter

Players could cause serious injury or death to

an opponent, and this was encouraged by the
referees.
The game ended when the first goal was
scored. Sometimes loosers were sacrified.

Web pages:

RESOURCES

www.wikipedia.org
www.youtube.com
www.history.com
www.indians.org
www.tarlton.law.ntexas.edu
www.latinamericanhistory.about.com
www.educatinghumanity.com

Musical background:

Xitotepec
Itzakam: Fuego fatuo
Alfredo Roel: Pac Chen mayan
Jorge Reyes: Mariposa de Obsidiana

David Gonzlez Rueda

2014