Mayan Civilization

The Maya civilization occupied the eastern third of Mesoamerica, primarily the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Mayan culture extended to parts of what is now Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador, and most of Guatemala and Belize.

MAYAN GEOGRAPHY

MAYAN GEOGRAPHY

Thick forests covered the area, so people had to clear the

land for farming.

The forests also brought valuable resources.

The Maya lived in small villages that traded cloth and obsidian, a sharp, glasslike volcanic

rock, with each other.

MAYAN SOCIETY

• Made up of kings, priests, warriors, and merchants

Upper

Class

• Most Maya belonged to the lower class.

Lower

Class

The Maya believed their rulers were related to the gods.

UPPER CLASS

• Were the most educated people in society

• Planned religious ceremonies

Priests

• Fought battles against other cities

• Highly respected

Warriors

• Organized the transportation and distribution of trade

Merchants

LOWER CLASS

The lower classes lived outside of the city.The women worked in the house, and the men hunted and farmed.

The lower class supported the upper class with food and labor and the upper class led religious ceremonies for them in return.

Slaves were the lowest class and consisted of orphans, slaves’ children, and people who owed money.

o The Maya civilization reached its height in a period called the Classic Age.

CLASSIC AGE

Trade

• The Maya cities in the highlands traded with those in the lowlands

• This way, people all over could get things they did not have nearby.

Cities

• The Maya built grand buildings, some of which honored Maya kings.

• They also built structures such as canals, ball courts, and large plazas.

Warfare

• Conflicts between cities were started over control of the land.

• Maya warfare was bloody, and warriors fought hand to hand.

RELIGION

The Maya worshipped many gods which related to different aspects of their daily life.

These gods could be harmful or helpful, so people tried to please them.

People pierced their tongues and skin to give blood to the gods. They even used human sacrifices.

The gods needed blood to prevent disasters and the end of the world.

MAYAN BELIEFS

Afterlife• They believed

they would be compensated.

• i.e. If they had a rough life, this would be made up to them in their afterlife.

Burial• Commoners

buried their dead inside their homes, under the floor so they could live with their ancestors.

• Nobles were buried in tombs.

Religion• They believed

the world was composed of three parts-the Heavens, the Earth, and the Underworld.

• They conducted many ceremonies to keep the demons and gods of the Underworld where they belonged.

MAYAN GODS

Hunab Ku- the supreme deity-the

creator god

Cizin- Death god- god of violent

sacrifice

Chac- Rain god- rain and lightning

Itzamna- Aged god-priestly knowledge, divination, writing

CREATION MYTH

DESTRUCTION MYTH

People have theories such as an asteroid strike or a supernova...

Theories

There is not much information regarding what the Mayans thought would occur in 2012, but there are clues that there will be a catastrophic event that will change the world..

Lack of Knowledge

The Long Count Calendar of the Ancient Mayans ends on Dec 21, 2012.

.

Calendar

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived two brothers. The brothers tried very hard to be good gardeners. But even the rabbit that rooted in their garden for food each day knew they were not very good at gardening. What they were good at, great at, absolutely excellent at, were ballgames. Onlookers cheered so loudly whenever the boys played ball that the noise attracted the attention of the Lords of Death. The Lords of Death lived in the Underworld. They liked to trick people into dying. They especially liked tricking people who were bothering them, and the boys were bothering them. They were far too noisy!

The Lords of Death sent a message to the brothers praising their wonderful talent. The message included an invitation to play a ballgame in the Underworld. The brothers were instructed to bring their ball and their protective gear as none could be provided. No one played ball in the Underworld normally, so this would be a great treat for everyone. The brothers did not trust the Lords of Death. They hid their ball and protective gear under the rafters in their mother's house. Perhaps without gear they would not have to play and thus could avoid whatever trickery the Lords of Death had planned.

HERO TWINS

The boys set out for the Underworld. They made it safely across the river of spikes, blood and pus. They arrived safely at the house of the Lords of Death. There, a Lord waited for them to say hello. It was a trick. That Lord was only a wood statue. When the boys said hello to a wood statue, the real Lords rushed out from where they had been hiding. They shook their heads in pretended shock. "Do you think our heads are filled with wood?" they cried. The brothers had been royally tricked. They had failed a test. "Now wait," interrupted one of the real Lords. "They did get across all three rivers safely." "Hum," said one of the other Lords thoughtfully. "You're right, of course. Hardly anyone ever does that! That's quite an accomplishment and needs to be taken into consideration." "Have a seat while we think about what to do with you," a third Lord nodded to the brothers.

Feeling hopeful that perhaps they would not be killed after all, the brothers sat down on a bench. The bench was burning hot. The boys leaped up, but it was too late. They had failed another test. After many trials, the Hero twins finally defeated the lords of the Underworld in the ballgame.

HERO TWINS CONTINUED

The Maya Hero Twins are the central figures of a narrative included within the colonial Quiché document called Popol Vuh. Called Hunahpu and Xbalanque in Quiché, the Twins have also been identified in the art of the Classic Mayas (200-900 AD). The Twin motif recurs in many native American mythologies; the Mayan Twins in particular could be considered as mythical ancestors to the Mayan ruling lineages.

This story tells the of the defeat of the Lords of the Underworld, but I believe that the hero twins were symbols of great warriors that were present at this time and that they defeated a great enemy.

MYTH ANALYSIS