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Oxford International Primary History Student Book 5 0198418132 9780198418139 (1) 38 53

The document outlines the history and achievements of the Maya civilization, which settled in Central America around 2300 years ago, developing advanced farming techniques and creating impressive city-states. It describes their societal structure, including the absence of a central emperor, and highlights their contributions in writing, art, and science. The document also touches on the mystery surrounding the decline of the Maya civilization and their cultural practices, including the significance of maize and chocolate.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
12 views16 pages

Oxford International Primary History Student Book 5 0198418132 9780198418139 (1) 38 53

The document outlines the history and achievements of the Maya civilization, which settled in Central America around 2300 years ago, developing advanced farming techniques and creating impressive city-states. It describes their societal structure, including the absence of a central emperor, and highlights their contributions in writing, art, and science. The document also touches on the mystery surrounding the decline of the Maya civilization and their cultural practices, including the significance of maize and chocolate.

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elena.kozlova
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In this unit you will: explain why the Maya settled in the jungle recall who ruled the Maya explain what Mayan cities were like @ _exomine what achievements the Maya are known for explore what happened to the Maya Isla Cerritos Central . pel tinea re i a TD eon Chicnenttzg region @ ° | Udi Tulum Calakma s ‘ ElMindor Sangarolb Patenaue 7 . eeuize * 2 < oma ie Caragol / GUATEMALA Key © Coastal city-state @ Lowland city-state © Highland city-state # Tropical city-state The Maya made their home in Central America. The former Mayan region covers southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, the northern part of Honduras and some of El Salvador. SE CR About 2300 years ago, tribes called the Maya settled in the jungles, mountains and coastal areas of southern Mexico and Central America. They were skilled farmers and builders who created many beautiful cities. These cities contained palaces, temples, pyramids and homes. The cities were connected with roads that ran through the jungles. Each city was a centre of learning and the Maya achieved much in writing, art and science. ‘The Romans ‘The height ofthe) Maya €250-900 ‘The Anglo Saxons civilisation society city-state The Maya civilisation began about 2300 years ago. Approximately what year was that? The civilisation was at its height from about 250 ce to about 900 ce. k What othercivlisations FE and topics have you studied from this period of time? HOO ce-1066 3.1 Who were the Maya? The first Mayan tribes were hunter- gatherers. This means that they moved around from place to place gathering food (such as fruit, seeds and nuts) and hunting animals for meat. Gradually, the Maya learned how to grow crops such as corn (which they called maize), squash and beans. This changed how the Maya lived. Why and how did knowledge of growing crops change Mayan civilisation? Farming techniques The Maya learned how to clear large areas of Jungle to create fields to grow crops. They used tools made from stone, bone and wood. When they had removed most of the trees, ‘they set fire to the remaining plants. They used the ash from these fires as afertiliser that added nutrients to the earth. The ash helped the Maya to grow crops successfully. The Maya dug canals through the fields so they could water their crops. Stepped farming using terraces helped the Maya to farm in mountainous regions. Where the land was very wet, the Maya built raised platforms on which they grew crops. In mountainous areas, they used stepped farming, which means that they built terraces up the hillside. The terraces stopped the soil slipping downhill and provided a firm, flat base for the crops to grow. A wide variety of food Maize was a very important food for the Maya. They made corn flour from maize and used it to make bread. The most common type of bread was very thick and flat, known as a tortilla. The Maya also made porridge from maize. Mayan farmers grew many other crops, including sweet potatoes, tomatoes, avocados ‘and chilli peppers. The Maya kept bees for honey and grew cotton to make clothes. They caught fish in the rivers and hunted wild turkeys and deer. The Maya used cacao beans to make a bitter chocolate drink, sometimes spiced with chilli Drei oer. Water was important for growing crops and for drinking. Where water was hard to find, the Maya collected rainwater and stored it in tanks and reservoirs. Etre ees maize stepped farming nutrients terrace squash tortilla The Maya used a flat, stone table known as a metate to grind com into flour. They used the flour to make bread. Settling down ‘Once the Maya began to farm, groups of people were able to settle in villages. The Maya were successful farmers so there was plenty of food and the population in these villages began to grow. Over time, cities started to develop. Nort hati (ot) 1 Show your understanding by defining these words. Then explain why each of these things was important to the Maya: a maize b stepped farming c metate. Write a brief report explaining: how the Maya farmed b what Mayan farmers grew © why the Maya changed from hunter-gatherers to settlers. Be a good histo Remember that historians and archeologists do not always know the answers to questions in history. For example, experts are not completely sure why the Maya eventually abandoned their rainforest cities. The experts carry out research and look for clues, but sometimes they have to make an ‘educated guess! Challenge ‘The Maya are believed to be the first people to discover how to make chocolate. Find out about the history of chocolate. How did the Maya enjoy chocolate? How did it become the type of chocolate we enjoy today? pfpw eauLe 3.2 What were Mayan cities like? The Maya never had one emperor ruling over them or just one central capital city. Instead, there were many independent areas, each controlled by a different king. These were called city-states. The city-state was the total area ruled by aking. The king and his advisors and all the important buildings were located in the main city, usually close to the centre of the city-state. How many city-states were there? What ‘were Mayan cities like? How were the cities The people who managed the city used these > buiaings. SST NST NSS 0s tombs for deod kings al tand.as places for public The Maya used an observatory to watch the movements of the sun, moon and stars. This vas very important to the Maya, They used the positions of the tars and planets to decide when to plant and harvest their crops and when to goto war with another city-state There were more than 60 separate city-states. Some of the biggest, such as Tikal, were home to about 100 000 people. Mayan civilisation There were many different city-states, but all the Maya spoke the same language - Mayan. Atleast 6 million people still speak Mayan today. People in all the city-states worshipped in the same way and followed similar laws. They planned their cities in the same way, with all the important buildings in the centre and the ordinary homes and farms on the edges. All the Maya dressed in a similar way and shared the same calendar. This is abl court Ball games were very popular with the May. nthe Mayan city of Chichen Itza in Mexico, [fp archeologistshave found [f it icost 12 ball cours. The pyramids had great importance in Mayan culture and beliefs The [Mayo used the pyramids Rival city-states For many years, historians thought the Maya were peaceful. However, archeologists discovered wall paintings, statues and carvings that recorded wars between rival city-states. Sometimes one city-state became very powerful and gained control of some of the smaller city-states. But no state managed to control the whole Mayan civilisation. The Maya built their spectacular buildings without metal tools, the wheel or large ‘animals (such as the donkey, ox or elephant) to help them. These homes were made from mud. and sticks, with thatched roofs They were built on raised platforms to protect them from floods. most ordinary people lived outside the city, The king and his most Important advisors lived Inthisarea, raised above the rest of the city Teotihuacan,acity of over 100 000 people, was acentre for trade, By 500cz, it was the sixth largest city in the world. The larger pyramid shown here is the thir largest in the world. Peli ty 1 Research one Mayan city-state and find images. Write a fact file about the city-state you have researched. Create a travel guide for someone visiting the city-state. You can write your guide for someone visiting the city-state today, or for someone visiting long ago. The Maya were one of many civilisations of southern Mexico, Central America and South America. Use books and the Internet to research and prepare fact files about the Olmec, Inca and Aztec civilisations. phpw aul € The Mayo buitt ARS The Maya built roads 10 connect the cities. ‘and pyramids ‘roundlarge, ‘open squares temples, palaces ‘and wide streets. Glossary words tomb

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