Maya social and political structure

1. Maya Social and Political
Organization
Matthew Ripley-Moffitt
Cary Academy

2. Lords & Nobles
•The Lord:
–Highest authority in Maya city center was
Halach Uinic
–Chiefs and Priests served as advisors to
help carry our government functions
–Lord ruled for life; considered god-king
–Succeeded by son or other close male
relative

3. Lords & Nobles cont
•Nobles:
–Chiefs, priests, lesser govern’t officials
–Ruled over village hamlets (outside city
center)
–Gathered taxes, supplies, organized large
building projects, led peasant armies
–Wore elaborate clothing including
headdresses, animal skins, feathered
capes, gold jewelry

4. Priests
•Led ritual practices – including sacrifice and
offerings
•Also mathematicians, astronomers, healers,
historians, shamans
•Heavens divided into 13 compartments
•Underworld divided into 9 compartments
•Deities were natural forces, many combined
with animal attributes

5. Merchants & Artisans
•Artisans
–Created books – paper codices, glyphs
–Pottery; architecture; sculpture, jewelry, weaving
•Merchants
–by sea, river & extensive road system
–Imported: obsidian, jade, quetzal feathers, copal,
cocoa beans
–Exported: salt, cotton, dried fish, animal skins

6. Peasant - farmers
•Huts – poles covered with dried mud
•Corn, squash, beans, sometimes rabbit or
turkey
•Men worked in fields, women worked
close to home
•Worked on royal building projects or
served in army during dry season

7. Slaves
•Some born into slavery
•Others became slaves through:
–Children sold into slavery
–War prisoners
–Punishment for serious crimes