Essential Question

How did the Mayans

adapt their
environment?
 Instructions
• Anything written in yellow (SLOW
down and pay attention) is useful
information. You should write it in your
notes IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
• Anything in red (STOP and pay close
attention) is critical information and
should be copied exactly.
• Anything in green (GO on to the next
point) you do not have to write.
The Maya
 Some info
• Historians first believed the
Maya were peaceful and
had a perfect society.
• Now historians are
questioning their thoughts.
• We do know they were the
most advanced people in
the Western Hemisphere.
Geography
 Geography
• On the southern tip of Mexico
and into central America.
• The land was heavily
covered in rain forests.
• This provided some
advantages to the Maya but
also some challenges.
• Good land for • Not much of it.
farming.
• Plenty of water. • Sometimes
floods!
• Lots and lots of • Little open
trees for wood. space.
 Adaptations
• Changing your environment so
it is better for you.
• The Mayans adapted by using
Slash and Burn.
• Slash and burn – cutting down
and burning trees to clear
room.
Society
Slavery
 Slavery
• Slaves were usually captured
warriors.
• They were often
used as sacrifices.
• This was in part to humiliate
and scare potential enemies.
• Female slaves worked as
servants.
Essential Question

What were some of

the unique aspects
of Mayan society?
Stuff to Do For Fun
 Pok-a-tok!
• Kind of like soccer…
• And a bit like football…
• Little bit of basketball too…
• If you lose, you usually get
sacrificed.
• And, oh yeah, if you win, you might
get sacrificed too!
Mayan Beauty
The Mayans had
a very different
idea of what was
beautiful…
They found flat
foreheads to be
very attractive…
 How and Why
• Basically from birth
babies would have
boards strapped to
their heads.
• This was done (we think) to
make the heads look like a piece
of corn.
 And just is case the
flathead didn’t impress
the ladies…
They also liked crossed eyes…
How about hats?
More Feathers = More Beauty
 Other options:
• Jam a piece of rock into your
teeth.
• Get lots of tattoos.
• Pierce lips and ears.
Dra
Writing
• Wrote using syllables and
sounds not just
pictures.
• Only people in
the west to write
like that.
• Only a few of their books
remain, the Spanish burnedCAT
most of their books. K + AT
 Sound Guide
• a • ‘ah’
• e • ‘eh’ like effort
• i • ‘ee’ like feet
• o • ‘oh’ like open
• u • ‘oo’ like moon
• x • ‘sh’ like bush
 Common Phrases
• Bix a belex?
• (Hi, how are you?)
• Maloob.
• (I’m fine)
• Yum botic.
• (Thank you.)
Mayan Religion
• The Maya worshipped
many gods.
• They believed the
gods required
sacrifices to be
happy.
• A sacrifice could be an
animal, corn or even
human blood.
"They should cut themselves open, that
from under their ribs up under their
armpits their hearts should be torn out.
Before everything, sacrifice. By this
you will obtain grace. Next, make holes
in your ears, and likewise prick your
elbows and knees. Offer as sacrifice
the blood that flows from them. In
these ways, your gratitude will be
shown."
-The Popol Vuh
 Mayan Calendar
• Mainly used to know when to
plant crops.
• Also used to know when to do
religious rituals.
• Predicted this “age” will end in
December 2012.
What do you
think will
happen on
Dec 21,
2012?
Essential Question

Describe the rise

and fall of the
Mayan Empire.
 City-states
• The Maya empire had
many city-states each
with their own ruler.
• There was no single
king who ever ruled all
of the Maya.
• Tikal and Palenque were
generally the 2 most
powerful.
Tikal – largest,
most powerful
in southern
highlands
Palenque – home
to King Pacal
Chichen Itza –
main city in
northern
lowlands
• The states often traded with each
other.
• The north traded
food to the south
for jade and
obsidian.
• War also happened between the
states… frequently.
 Eliminator
For the following question choose two answers which you could eliminate
as correct answers. Then explain why you eliminated them.

What can we assume about Mayan city–

states based on this section?
A. They always traded with each other.
B. They were ruled similarly to city-
states from other countries.
C. They were ruled by a new king
every 10 years.
D. They never had problems getting
food.
Government
The Classic Age
 The Classic Maya
• All these things we’ve talked about
happened during “The Classic Age.
• Technology advanced, city-states
rose, religion was dominant.
• The Maya grew in population and
power throughout this time.
• But then…
The Collapse
• Around 900 A.D. the
Mayans abandoned their
towns.
• They scattered throughout
the jungle areas and some
moved to other tribes.
• It is still not known exactly
why the society fell apart.
 Maya Mysteries
• There are many theories as to
what happened.
• Many believe famine (not
enough food) was part of the
problem.
• Some say it was too much
war.
• Some say aliens!
 The End
• About 300 years after the
collapse Mayan society
started to rebuild.
• But in the 1500s the Spanish
arrived and conquered the
remaining Maya cities.
• The Spanish burned Mayan
books and punished anyone
who spoke the Maya
language
 Quiz
1. The Mayan civilization was located in a _____.
2. The Con of living in a rain forest is little ____ ____.
3. Describe how the Mayans adapted to their environment?
4. _____were usually used for sacrifices.
5. Mayans found ____ and _____ to be attractive.
6. Mayans wrote using ___ and _____.
7. Mayans believed that the gods needed ___ to be happy
8. The Mayan Calendar was used to know when to ___ and
____.
9. Did the Maya have an over all King?
10.When did the Maya abandon their towns?
11.Why exactly did the Mayan Society fall apart?
12.Why do many believe that the Mayan went away?
13.What happened to the Mayan books and language?
 3-2-1
Complete the following 3-2-1 Summary

3- Pros to living in a rainforest

2- Countries the Mayans were

located in

1- Thing you found interesting