Maya Geography
What region stretches from the central area of Mexico south to the northern part of Central America?
Mesoamerica
When did the Maya civilization begin and disappear?
What are 2 staple crops that the Mayans grew to feed their people?
Maize, Beans, Squash, or Cacao
How many calendars did the Maya create?
The Maya had 2 calendars, 1 for daily life and 1 for sacred rituals .
One of the major achievements of the Maya civilization is the development of a sophisticated writing system, what is it called?
The Maya developed Hieroglyphs around 300 B.C.E.
What period did the Maya Civilization reach its peak?
Who held the highest position in Maya society?
The Ruler or The King
For what reasons did the Maya build observatories?
The Maya wanted to chart the movement of the moons, stars, and planets which they used to create their complex calendars.
True or False, Maya Woman had power in the civilization?
True, Women in Maya society could own property, manage households, and participated in religious ceremonies; some even held political power.
The capital city of the Maya Civilization was called?
Tikal
What "Mother Culture" did the Maya come from?
The Olmec
In what class did most of the Maya population belong to?
The enslaved people
Who were the most educated group in Mayan society and could read "hidden" meaning in the Sacred Round?
Priests
A period of little to no rain could have caused the decline of the Maya and is also called this?
Drought
What are the names of two countries in Central America that include parts of the ancient Maya territory?
Two countries that include parts of the ancient Maya territory are Mexico and Guatemala. Also, Belize and parts of Honduras and El Salvador
What was the "food of the rulers and the gods?"
Chocolate
What did the Maya believe that their gods needed to prevent disasters or the end of the world?
Blood
What type of impressive architecture did the Maya build?
They used their knowledge of mathematics to build pyramids, temples, and palaces made of limestone
Explain the significance of the ball game in Maya culture.
The significance of the ball game (pok-a-tok) in Maya culture included its role in religious rituals, social status, and as a method of settling disputes.
What were the 3 methods of farming that the Maya used to grow crops?
Terracing, Chinampas, and Slash and Burn
What Maya king built a temple in the city of Palenque to record his achievements?
Pacal
What did the Maya build to control the flow of water through their cities?
canals
The Maya created a number system that helped them make complex calculations and were among the first people with a symbol for ________________.
Zero
What are at least 2 factors that historians believe led to the decline of the Maya?
1. Burden on common people, over population
2. War
3. Not enough food
4. Climate change/drought