Mayan CultureAarti Mehta-2A

History

● Yucatan in 2600 B.C.● rose to prominence in 250 A.D.● much of their culture is built of the Olmec

culture

Location/Climate

● Yucatan Peninsula which consist of the Northern and Southern land

● N. Lowland: drier, grows small thorny trees, rainforests

● S. Highland: scattered savannas and swamps, volcanic mountains

● In present day, these locations are called Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, etc.

Location/Climate

● animals such as jaguars, caimen, poisonous snakes, monkeys occupied the area

● peccaries, deer turkey, rabbit, tapirs and other rodents were hunted

Lowlands: hot, rainyHighlands: cooler, dry● Feb-May: dry season; hot, uncomfortable

weather● Rain and showers only began in late may

Resources

● maize(corn)● squash● beans● chili peppers● amaranth● manioc● cotton and sisal-for clothing They used the slash and burn technique for farming

Resources

The discovery of● flint● jade● obsidian● iron pyrite● hematiteallowed for them to enhance their mining systems.They also began digging clay for housing items and architectural purposes.

Economy/Relations

● lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle● Many of the natural resources they obtained

were used for trading with other cultures in the Mesoamerican area

● the lowlands provided routes for transportation which supported their nomadic behavior

● they would also exchange knowledge about writing, astronomy, etc with one another

● currency: bean, copper bells, shells, beads, etc

Decline

There are many theories as to how the Mayan civilization faded over time. 1. by 19th century, they had exhausted the

environment and couldn't support a large population

2. cities were abandoned 3. endemic warfare and drought between

members of royalty; foreign attacksIt is still not a fully died out culture. Many Mayans still live in their home region.

Migration

● nomadic hunter-gatherers● Mayan ancestors crossed the Bering

Strait● settled in Tikal, Palenque and Quirigua

during Classic Period● after Classic Period, they travelled to

Yucatan

Migration

Government

● nepotism● primogeniture; father draws his own blood

and offers it to the heir● there was one ruler per city; usually it was

a priest ● hierarchy ● lived in city-states● practiced human sacrifice

Relationships

● Externally- developed their own inventions and ideas based on the Olmec, shared aspects of culture with Toltec, they participated in trade and exchange

● Internally- everyone had their own place in society, families would trade with one another, only people of importance were allowed in temples, had distinguished levels of power

Culture

● spoke various languages including Cholan, Huastecan, Tzeltal and more

● developed astronomy and astrology● architectural styles● developed hieroglyphic writing● calendar● always trying to please God

Religion

● worshipped more than 160 deities● viewed natural world as a continuum● astronomy and astrology were important

aspects of life● they would please God by sacrificing● had a God for everything-rain, war, sun,

crops, health, and prosperity● Mayan rulers were between man and

God; all went to underworld

Religion (cont.)

● Gods included Itzamna, Kukulcan, Chac1. Itzamna: the creator god2. Kukulcan: Serpent god3. Chac: god of rain and lightening● the Afterlife was considered a violent

journey through the underworld● religion and science were the same● practiced divination● would sacrifice blood and offer it to God

Music/Art

● painted upon paper and plaster● carved wood and stone● clay and stucco models, terra cotta

figurines● Mayans kings used clay statues to

memorialize themselves in history● works reflected society and interactions● COPAN: a hieroglyphic stairway of

statues and styles

Music/Art

● music played an important part in Mayan culture

● when a woman died, the instruments played during 'the funeral' were broken and place in the casket with her

● each village has unique embroidery, design and shape

● built white flutes, bone flutes, drums, rattling cups, ocarinas

Literature

● developed hieroglyphic writing● had their own alphabet ● elaborate system of writing to record the

transition of power● recorded on stone,wood and bark● developed 'huun' paperFour Books:1. Dresden Codex2. Paris Codex3. Grolier Codex4. Mudad Codex

Clothing

● cotton was used for light clothing while sisal was used for heavy clothing

● women wore huipil, which as decorative blouse; it included diamonds that were meant represent the sun; they also wore tzute

● men wore breechcloth and morrals● all their clothing had some sort of spiritual

representation

Customs

● divination● human sacrifice● sweat baths● burial under houses● self-torture● dancing

Cuisine

● hunting, foraging, gathering, agriculture● focused on crops that they produced such

as maize, beans, squash, etc● fished for sea animals like lobster, fish,

shrimp, shellfish● added spices such as salt, chili peppers

and cacao to bland dishes● used slash and burn technique

Education

● only taught to priests, leaders, chiefs, etc● parents taught their children what they

knew● mother tending to children, but father

were required to train the boys● two dialects were the most common form

of language● taught to respect leader● do what's best for community,

responsibility

Technology

● astrology, astronomy● hieroglyphic writing● engineering● communications● calendar● architecture● mathematics-arithmetic

Contributions

Overall, the Mayans played a great part in developing our world. 1. hieroglyphic writing2. arithmetic3. calendar system4. architecture5. astronomy- 365 days

Works Cited1. "Maya Civilization." Maya Civilization. Web. 04 June 2012.

<http://www.indians.org/welker/maya.htm>.2. "Mayan Economics." About.com Archaeology. Web. 04

June 2012. <http://archaeology.about.com/od/mayaarchaeology/qt/maya_economics.htm>.

3. "Mayan Religion." - ReligionFacts. Web. 04 June 2012. <http://www.religionfacts.com/mayan_religion/index.htm>.

4. "Mayan History Home Page." Mayan History Home Page. Web. 04 June 2012. <http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/jaguar/history.html>.

5. "Mayan Script." Mayan Hieroglyphic Script and Languages. Web. 04 June 2012. <http://www.omniglot.com/writing/mayan.htm>.

6. "The Ancient Maya." - History. Web. 04 June 2012. <http://www.digitalmeesh.com/maya/history.htm>.

1. "The Temple of Information." The Temple of Information. Web. 04 June 2012. <http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~jchance/mayainfo.html>.

2. "Mayan Art." Mayan Art. Web. 04 June 2012. <http://www.lost-civilizations.net/mayan-art.html>.

3. "Mayan History - Crystalinks." Mayan History - Crystalinks. Web. 04 June 2012. <http://www.crystalinks.com/mayanhistory.html>.