The Maya (note)

Maya

Mesoamerican civilization that lived on the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America and other regions of Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Mayan Civilizations

Pre-Columbian civilizations that existed in the Americas before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

Locations

Maya settlements were found in the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco, and Yucatan, as well as in Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Pre-classic Period

The period of Mayan development from 2000 BC to 300 AD.

Classic Period

The period of Mayan development from 300 AD to 900 AD.

Post-Classic Period

The period of Mayan development from 900 AD to 1521 AD.

Agriculture/Farming

The main occupation of the Maya, with corn or maize being the main crop.

Milpas

Portions of corn land given to each member of the Mayan farming community.

Chultunes

Underground storerooms used by Mayan farmers to store harvested crops.

Crafts

Skilled craftsmen supplied the Mayan states with clothing, tools, and household implements.

Feather Weaving

Highly developed craft by Mayan women, creating beautiful feather costumes for soldiers and nobility.

Pottery

Well-developed craft by Mayan women, creating ornate containers and charming model figures.

Hunting

Maya bred turkeys, doves, and barkless dogs for hunting deer, tapir, and peccary in the forests.

Halach Uinic

Hereditary ruler and chief of the Mayan city-states.

Batab

Head of each village in the Mayan settlement, responsible to the Halach Uinic.

Tupiles

Constables supervised by the batabs, responsible for keeping the peace.

Nacom

War chief who organized battles and raised armies.

Akin

Priests of the highest class, responsible for foretelling events and finding dates for festivals.

Housing

Mayans lived in round huts with woven reed walls and a cone-shaped roof.

Religion

Maya were polytheistic, worshiping 166 gods and practicing human sacrifice.

Pok a Tok

Sacred ball game of the Maya with ritual significance, where losers could be sacrificed.

Maya Achievements

Developed calendars, a writing and numbering system, and built massive buildings (pyramids) over 200 feet high.

Glyph

System of writing used by the Maya, consisting of symbols.

Calendar

Maya had three calendars to keep track of days, months, years, and the number of days since the beginning of the Mayan era.

Numbering System

Maya developed a system of numbering using symbols, with the shell representing zero and a shell with a dot representing twenty.