Mesoamerica

Geography and Early Maya

 

Mesoamerica extends from central Mexico to the northern part of Central America.  The Maya civilization developed here around 1000 BC. Thick forest covered the area, so Maya cleared the areas to farm.  They grew maize, or corn, and beans, squash and avocados.  The forest was also a source of many resources, including animals for food and wood for building materials.  The Maya lived in villages.  By AD 200, the Maya were building large cities.

 

The Classical Age

Maya civilization ws at its peak between AD 250 and 900, a period called the Classic Age.  There were more than 40 May cities.  They traded crops, wood, jade and obsidian.

 

The Maya built large stone pyramids, temples, and palaces.  Some building honored local kings.  A temple built in the city of Palenque honored the King Pacal.  The Maya built canals to bring water to the cities.  They also shaped hillsides into flat terraces for crops.

 

Maya Culture

They Maya had a complex social structure.  Kings held the highest position.  Priest, warriors and merchants made up the upper class.  Most Maya belonged to lower class farming families.  Maya farmers had to "pay" the rulers with some of their crops and with goods such as cloth and salt.  They also had to help build temples and other buildings.

 

The Maya worshipped many gods, thus they were polytheistic.  Each god represented a different aspect of life.  the Maya tried to keep the gods happy by giving them blood. 

 

Maya achievements were in art, architeture, math, science and writing and they were remarkable.  They built observatories for priests to study the stars.  They developed a calendar that had 365 days.  The Maya developed a number system and a writing system.  they also made

jade and gold jewelry.

 

Decline of Maya Civilization 

Maya civilization began to collapse in the 900's.  They stopped building large buildings and left the cities for the countryside.  Historians are not sure why this happened, but there are several theories.

 

Some historians believe that maya farmers kept planting the same crop over and over, which weakened the soil.  this may have caused more competition and war between the cities.  The people may have decided to rebel against their king's demands.  There probably were many factors that led to the decline of the Maya civilization.

 

Complete the followinging questions in 2 column note format.

 

1.  Where did the Maya civilizations develope?

2.  What was the occupation of the early people of the Maya civilization?

3.  What were some ways the Maya's changed the environment?

4.  Explain the Maya social heirachy.

5.  Describe the religion of the Maya civilization.

6.  What are some reasons for the disappearance of the Maya civilization?

 

 

To learn more about the Maya Civilization visit the website below:

 

Click the link below and log into Brainpop.com  Username: durantmiddle   password: dolfin
When you have clicked the link, type in Maya Civilization in the search box.
http://www.brainpop.com

 

Watch the Maya Civilization video and take the quiz.

 

Want to learn more?  Watch the video clip located at the right 

hand side of the page!