The Mayans The Mayans and the Aztecand the Aztec

By Amelia Waalkes and Ella LanserBy Amelia Waalkes and Ella Lanser

DressDressMayanMayan

SoldiersSoldiers The Mayan soldiers wore armor The Mayan soldiers wore armor

made of heavy quilted cotton and made of heavy quilted cotton and carried with them bows and carried with them bows and arrows, a dart and throwing arrows, a dart and throwing stick, a wooden sword edged stick, a wooden sword edged with flint, a lance , a sling, a with flint, a lance , a sling, a copper axe, and a shield of reeds.copper axe, and a shield of reeds.

SlavesSlaves The Mayan slaves wore their hair The Mayan slaves wore their hair

cut short to show that they were cut short to show that they were in a lower class than the rest of in a lower class than the rest of the Mayans.the Mayans.

Upper ClassUpper Class Men from the upper class wore a Men from the upper class wore a

square cotton cloth around their square cotton cloth around their shoulders that was colorful and shoulders that was colorful and had lots of decorations like had lots of decorations like feathers.feathers.

WomenWomen Women wore a wraparound skirt, Women wore a wraparound skirt,

a waist sash, a huipil (like an a waist sash, a huipil (like an oversized blouse), a oversized blouse), a quechquemitl (like a poncho), quechquemitl (like a poncho), sandals, and a mantle (a long sandals, and a mantle (a long piece of fabric draped over the piece of fabric draped over the head).head).

AztecAztecSlavesSlaves Slaves wore loincloths made of a Slaves wore loincloths made of a

fabric of the agave plant called fabric of the agave plant called maguey.maguey.

Common peopleCommon people The common people of the Aztecs The common people of the Aztecs

wore very little clothing and all of it wore very little clothing and all of it was also made of maguey. was also made of maguey.

MerchantsMerchants The merchants had a freedom to The merchants had a freedom to

wear whatever they wanted so wear whatever they wanted so most of them wore fancier clothing.most of them wore fancier clothing.

Upper ClassUpper Class The upper class wore more colorful The upper class wore more colorful

clothes, lots of times with gold on clothes, lots of times with gold on them. Feathers, furs, and other them. Feathers, furs, and other decorations were often used.decorations were often used.

The MilitaryThe Military The military wore helmets that The military wore helmets that

looked like headdresses and often looked like headdresses and often their costume looked like a certain their costume looked like a certain animal like an eagle or a jaguar. animal like an eagle or a jaguar. They also carried with them a They also carried with them a decorated shield, spears, bows and decorated shield, spears, bows and a maquahuitl (a combination of a a maquahuitl (a combination of a sword and a club).sword and a club).

l

Warrior

huipil

RuinsRuinsMayan

The Mayan had so many ruins but here are the more impressive ones…

CaracolThis important city in Belize was hidden in the jungle until 1938. It has many pyramids, tombs, and pieces of art.

TikalThis Mayan city in Guatemala is best known for its temple of the two headed snake.

PalenquePalenque in Chiapas, Mexico is said to be the most magical of the Mayan cities.

Chichén ItzáThis city is the largest of the ancient Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula and now one of Mexico’s most visited tourist destinations.

AztecAztecHere are some of the Aztecs’ Here are some of the Aztecs’

most impressive ones…most impressive ones…TeotihuacanTeotihuacan

Teotihuacan was not actually Teotihuacan was not actually built by the Aztecs, but they built by the Aztecs, but they were so in awe of the ancient were so in awe of the ancient city it still became sacred.city it still became sacred.

CholulaCholulaCholula is one of the biggest Cholula is one of the biggest pyramids in the world. It has pyramids in the world. It has many tunnels dug through it many tunnels dug through it to excavate the things inside to excavate the things inside and now visitors are allowed and now visitors are allowed to go inside of it.to go inside of it.

TeopanzolcoTeopanzolcoInside of Teopanzolco the Inside of Teopanzolco the pyramid was never finished pyramid was never finished and no one knows why.and no one knows why.

TenochtitlanTenochtitlanLittle has been found of this Little has been found of this city located under Mexico city located under Mexico City.City.

Chichén Itzá Teotihuacan

ChocolateChocolate MayansMayans

The Mayans were the first real The Mayans were the first real chocolate experts. Chocolate chocolate experts. Chocolate was a medicine to cure was a medicine to cure everything, a part of society, everything, a part of society, a gift, and part of their myths. a gift, and part of their myths. Even burial tombs have been Even burial tombs have been found with pots and vases found with pots and vases that have paintings of cacao that have paintings of cacao beans on them.beans on them.

The Mayans did not have The Mayans did not have chocolate bars like we do. chocolate bars like we do. They ground it into a coarse They ground it into a coarse paste and mixed it with water, paste and mixed it with water, spices, and chiles to make a spices, and chiles to make a frothy and bitter drink. Or, frothy and bitter drink. Or, the beans were mixed with the beans were mixed with corn and flavorings to make a corn and flavorings to make a porridge-like food.porridge-like food.

AztecsAztecs In the Aztec culture chocolate In the Aztec culture chocolate

was reserved for the rich and was reserved for the rich and the nobles.the nobles.

Cacao was so special, it was Cacao was so special, it was the Aztecs’ currency.the Aztecs’ currency.

1 small rabbit = 30 cacao beans1 small rabbit = 30 cacao beans1 turkey egg = 3 cacao beans1 turkey egg = 3 cacao beans1 large tomato = 1 cacao bean1 large tomato = 1 cacao bean The Aztec people also figured The Aztec people also figured

out how to fake cacao beans. out how to fake cacao beans. They would take empty cacao They would take empty cacao shells and fill them with dirt.shells and fill them with dirt.

Rituals and SacrificesRituals and SacrificesMayanMayan

In one of the Mayan In one of the Mayan sacrifices, two warriors go to sacrifices, two warriors go to the sacrifice stone. One of the sacrifice stone. One of the warriors is the victim. He the warriors is the victim. He is chained to the sacrifice is chained to the sacrifice stone, and they fight to the stone, and they fight to the death. Of course the one death. Of course the one chained to the stone dies. He chained to the stone dies. He is now painted blue, and the is now painted blue, and the heart is taken out of him.heart is taken out of him.

Another ritual is bloodletting. Another ritual is bloodletting. It is a ritual to the maize It is a ritual to the maize gods and to the process of gods and to the process of birth. In bloodletting they birth. In bloodletting they would cut their skin, let some would cut their skin, let some blood come out, and seal the blood come out, and seal the wound up. They believed this wound up. They believed this to be healthy for them and a to be healthy for them and a sacrifice to the gods.sacrifice to the gods.

AztecAztec The Aztec also had bloodletting The Aztec also had bloodletting

much like the Mayans.much like the Mayans. In an Aztec human sacrifice a In an Aztec human sacrifice a

person would be put up on the person would be put up on the sacrifice stone and have their sacrifice stone and have their heart taken out and held up to heart taken out and held up to the sun. The body would then be the sun. The body would then be rolled down the stairs of the rolled down the stairs of the temple.temple.

Another ritual of the Aztecs was Another ritual of the Aztecs was the new fire ceremony. Every fire the new fire ceremony. Every fire was put out leaving the city in was put out leaving the city in darkness. The priests then darkness. The priests then climbed Uixachtlan, a sacred climbed Uixachtlan, a sacred mountain. At midnight a human mountain. At midnight a human sacrifice was made and the heart sacrifice was made and the heart was taken out. Then the priest was taken out. Then the priest attempted to light a fire in the attempted to light a fire in the chest of the victim. Once they lit chest of the victim. Once they lit the fire, torches were passed the fire, torches were passed around and the fires were lit around and the fires were lit againagain..

ReligionReligionMayanMayan

The Mayans’ main gods were the The Mayans’ main gods were the gods of corn, sun, rain and Itza the gods of corn, sun, rain and Itza the creator god.creator god.

The Mayans believed that there The Mayans believed that there were two different worlds--the were two different worlds--the everyday world and the other world everyday world and the other world (they lived in the everyday world (they lived in the everyday world and their ancestors’ spirits and and their ancestors’ spirits and gods lived in the other world). The gods lived in the other world). The priest was the one responsible for priest was the one responsible for standing between the two worlds. standing between the two worlds. He performed religious ceremonies He performed religious ceremonies that the Mayans believed would that the Mayans believed would earn them the favor of the other earn them the favor of the other world.world.

The Mayan rulers were also thought The Mayan rulers were also thought to be partly god and after they died to be partly god and after they died were buried in tombs full of were buried in tombs full of offerings.offerings.

Tepeu and Gucumatz are the first Tepeu and Gucumatz are the first beings to exist but they want to be beings to exist but they want to be worshiped by something so they worshiped by something so they ask Huracan, one of the gods, to ask Huracan, one of the gods, to help them make people. He makes help them make people. He makes animals but with all their animals but with all their squawking they didn’t worship their squawking they didn’t worship their creators, so Tepeu and Gucumatz creators, so Tepeu and Gucumatz send them to the forest and ask send them to the forest and ask another god to help. He makes another god to help. He makes them of mud but they crumble and them of mud but they crumble and fall apart. The next god makes fall apart. The next god makes them of wood but they have no soul them of wood but they have no soul so they quickly forget their creator. so they quickly forget their creator. Then the gods make people out of Then the gods make people out of corn and their work is complete. corn and their work is complete. That is why corn is not only the That is why corn is not only the cornerstone of the Mayan diet but cornerstone of the Mayan diet but they think they’re made of it.they think they’re made of it.

AztecAztec Aztec religion had a lot to do Aztec religion had a lot to do

with being scared of nature and with being scared of nature and scared of the end of the world. scared of the end of the world. Most of their rituals were to Most of their rituals were to prevent the end of the world or prevent the end of the world or to ask the gods to keep them to ask the gods to keep them safe.safe.

CreationCreation According to the Aztec religion According to the Aztec religion

it took the gods 5 tries to make it took the gods 5 tries to make the world. It took them 5 tries the world. It took them 5 tries because the gods would not because the gods would not agree with each other. After agree with each other. After each god was knocked down each god was knocked down from his position they would go from his position they would go and destroy the world again.and destroy the world again.

The SunThe Sun All the gods took turns being All the gods took turns being

the sun but they had a council the sun but they had a council and decided that one would and decided that one would have to be the only sun god and have to be the only sun god and sacrifice himself. But there was sacrifice himself. But there was a problem; the sun wouldn’t a problem; the sun wouldn’t move. So finally they all move. So finally they all sacrificed themselves but still sacrificed themselves but still the sun was weak. The people the sun was weak. The people had to give sacrifices to keep had to give sacrifices to keep the sun moving and to repay the sun moving and to repay the gods for sacrificing the gods for sacrificing themselves.themselves.

Mayan corn god

Quetzalcoatl

CalendarCalendarMayanMayan

The Mayans’ other calendar The Mayans’ other calendar was actually the Pyramid of was actually the Pyramid of Kukulkan at Chichén Itzá. It Kukulkan at Chichén Itzá. It had 4 stairways, each with 91 had 4 stairways, each with 91 steps, and a platform at the steps, and a platform at the top making a total of 365 top making a total of 365 steps, the number of days in steps, the number of days in the year.the year.

The Mayan calendar has 3 The Mayan calendar has 3 different dating systems--The different dating systems--The Haab (civil calendar), the Haab (civil calendar), the Tzolkin (divine calendar), and Tzolkin (divine calendar), and the Long count.the Long count.

AztecAztec The Aztec calendar was dedicated The Aztec calendar was dedicated

to the sun god. It was three feet to the sun god. It was three feet thick and almost 12 feet across. It thick and almost 12 feet across. It was buried under Mexico City for was buried under Mexico City for almost 300 years.almost 300 years.

Calendar 1Calendar 1 The first calendar was called The The first calendar was called The

Xiuhpohualli, the counting of the Xiuhpohualli, the counting of the years a lot like our calendar. It had years a lot like our calendar. It had 365 days but there were 18 365 days but there were 18 months each consisting of 4 five-months each consisting of 4 five-day weeks. Then 5 unlucky days day weeks. Then 5 unlucky days were added each year. They would were added each year. They would also have 4 seasons.also have 4 seasons.

Calendar 2Calendar 2 The Tonalpohualli is the more The Tonalpohualli is the more

sacred calendar. It shows to what sacred calendar. It shows to what gods and when to make sacrifices gods and when to make sacrifices and offerings.and offerings.

Every 52 years the two calendars Every 52 years the two calendars will align. This could bring will align. This could bring disaster on the world so the new disaster on the world so the new fire ritual takes place.fire ritual takes place.

The FallThe FallMayanMayan

Some time in the 800’s Some time in the 800’s unknown attackers attacked unknown attackers attacked Cancuen and streamed into its Cancuen and streamed into its ritual heart. They came in very ritual heart. They came in very fast. We can even tell today. fast. We can even tell today. Unfinished projects are just Unfinished projects are just sitting there, pots and bowls sitting there, pots and bowls were all over the kitchen and were all over the kitchen and lying on the floor, and half lying on the floor, and half carved statues are sitting in carved statues are sitting in the open. They killed the the open. They killed the Queen, King and the rest of Queen, King and the rest of the city. They wonder what the the city. They wonder what the attackers were looking for. attackers were looking for. Apparently they weren’t Apparently they weren’t interested in treasure—jade, interested in treasure—jade, gold, and ceramics were gold, and ceramics were undisturbed--but the undisturbed--but the attackers’ message was clear. attackers’ message was clear. They had chipped the faces of They had chipped the faces of all the stone monuments and all the stone monuments and tipped them face first on the tipped them face first on the ground. The city was ritually ground. The city was ritually killed. Cancuen was one of the killed. Cancuen was one of the last cities to be destroyed. The last cities to be destroyed. The civilization that had been the civilization that had been the strongest for over 500 years strongest for over 500 years was slowly being destroyed.was slowly being destroyed.

AztecsAztecs Years before the Spaniards came Years before the Spaniards came

to conquer Mexico Tenochtitlan to conquer Mexico Tenochtitlan had some unusual disasters. had some unusual disasters. Between 1517 and 1519 they had Between 1517 and 1519 they had an earthquake and Lake Texcoco an earthquake and Lake Texcoco flooded the capital city. They flooded the capital city. They believed this to be a sign that the believed this to be a sign that the end of the Aztec rule was coming. end of the Aztec rule was coming. In 1519 Hernando Cortes arrived In 1519 Hernando Cortes arrived in Mexico. He defeated the local in Mexico. He defeated the local tribe of Indians and moved into tribe of Indians and moved into the capital city. Cortes arrived the capital city. Cortes arrived there with more than 500 there with more than 500 soldiers, 14 cannons, 16 horses, soldiers, 14 cannons, 16 horses, and a large number of Aztec and a large number of Aztec enemies. When Cortes arrived the enemies. When Cortes arrived the Aztec people gave him gifts of Aztec people gave him gifts of gold and food to encourage him gold and food to encourage him to turn around but he would not. to turn around but he would not. When he entered the city he was When he entered the city he was given more gifts but he still would given more gifts but he still would not turn around. He had King not turn around. He had King Motecuhzoma put in prison and Motecuhzoma put in prison and had him killed. In 1521 Cortés's had him killed. In 1521 Cortés's army had conquered the Aztecs army had conquered the Aztecs and within two years the Spanish and within two years the Spanish diseases had wiped out everyone.diseases had wiped out everyone.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Thanks for listening. We Thanks for listening. We hope you learned hope you learned something new!something new!