Maya presentation

1. The Magnificent Mayans
By:Gavin,Anastasia,&Jasmynn

2. Government
- Some priests had the opportunity to rule cities.
- Cities were also ruled by noble families. The rulers would be
chosen by nobility, not necessarily by direct blood relationships
like father to son.
- The ruler also had to pick a council of elder people and
warriors to help him rule.
- Lawmakers created harsh punishments for those who
committed crimes.
- The ruler most likely also controlled the military forces.

3. Trade
- The lowlands (low-level land) of the Mayan
lands were used mostly for growing crops. These
crops consisted of maize, squash, beans, chili
peppers, amaranth, manioc and cacao.
- The Mayans also grew cotton for clothing and
sisal for clothing and rope.
-The highlands (high-level land) had an abundant
source of obsidian, jade, and metals.
- The Mayans took advantage of the geography
and created many trade routes.
- Some areas in the lowlands received around
160 inches of rain per year, which created rivers
in certain areas. These rivers were important for
trading and transportation.

4. Achievements
•Knew how to predict solar eclipses
•Made 2 different calendars
- Calendar Round- a calendar that measured time in a endless loop. It is based
on 2 different cycles : a 260 day sacred year and a 365 day secular calendar. Every 52
years was counted as a calendar round. After each calendar round the calendar would
start
- Long Count calendar- identified each day by counting forward from a base date
in the distant past( August 11th/13th 3114 BC. It cycled in intervals. the interval is known
as thee Grand Cycle and is equal to 5,139 years.
•Created rubber. They combined the rubber tree and the morning glory plant to make a
strong rubber. the Mayans used this to make water resistant clothes, glue, book
bindings, toys, and for the large rubber pokatok (a game) balls.
•Developed the concept of zero
• Invented the most advanced form of writing in the ancient Americas. They had 700
glyphs, but we can only understand about 80%.
• Had a 20 base system, because they counted on their fingers and toes.

5. Mayan Architecture
Mayan architecture contains many different styles. These
included:
• Maya Toltec Style: Contains columns, large carvings of the
heads of various animals and humans.
• Puuc Style: Contains many carvings of Chaac, a Mayan
god.
•Peten Style: Contains high structures along with steep walls
and steep stairs.
•Rio Bek Style: Contains rectangular structures with round
towers on top of them. This style was also seen on the
Mayan pyramids whose stairs had no function.
•Chenes Style: Contains structures decorated with
mythological creatures.

6. Mayan Architecture Cont.
The Mayans would draw the design for a structure on fig tree
bark before presenting it to the king to be approved or altered.
The Mayans lacked metal tools, the wheel and did not use
animals for transportation. For building they would carve
hammers and chisels out of stone.

7. Mayan Culture
Mayan culture was heavily influenced by their religion. The
Mayan gods consisted of thirteen gods belonging to the thirteen
heavens and nine gods belonging to the nine underworlds.
Different natural elements also had their own god. The Mayans
believed that the gods' mood would change according to the day
and position of the sun and the moon. Because of this the Maya
created a calender so that they could know the gods' mood on a
specific day. To be able to create such a complex calender they
had to develop a system of math and astronomy. The Maya also
built structures to honor the gods. Such structures might contain
carvings of the gods, as seen in the Puuc and Chenes styles of
Mayan architecture. Mayan paintings also show aspects of their
religion. Many Mayan paintings portray sacrifices and myths.

8. The Fall of the Mayans
The reason of the decline of the Classic Period of the Mayan
on the 8th/9th century, still has not been discovered. There are
many theories about what happened. So far, archaeological
evidence has shown the causes to be either famine, warfare, or
revolt. The reasons could also be environmental,like
drought,famine, or overusing the crops. This decline only
affected the central lowlands. The northern lowlands in Yucatan
and southern highlands, still continued to prosper. Their decline
was because the Spanish started to take over their land. The
Spanish completely took over by 1697.

9. Sources
http://www.mayantravelguide.com/mayan-architecture.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/mayanarch.html
http://cancun.travel/en/things-to-do/mayan-culture
travelerphotos.blogspot.com
http://travelerphotos.blogspot.com/2008/09/palenque-mexico-mayan-ruins-
photos.html
http://www.worldart.com.au/ancient-mayan-art/
http://www.indians.org/welker/maya.htm
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lowland
http://mayas.mrdonn.org/government.html
http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/elmer/infoCentral/frameset/civilizations/maya/gov/ind
ex.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/mayansociety.html
http://www.lost-civilizations.net/mayan-society.html
http://www.travelmexicoplus.com/mayan-government.html

10. Sources
http://www.history.com/topics/mayan-scientific-achievements
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h433.html
 
http://mayas.mrdonn.org/inventions.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Maya-Decline&id=1617944
http://www.art-poster-online.com/maya.htm
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/08/maya-rise-fall/gugliotta-text