THE ANCIENT MAYAN CIVILITATION

Where was the Mayan civilitation located?

The Ancient Mayan lived in the Yucatán around 2600 B.C. Today, this area is southernMexico,Guatemala, northern Belize and western Honduras.

Can you find Mexico on the

map? Can you point at

Yucatán’s mainland?

MAYAN PEOPLE

The Ancient Maya had a class society. At the top were the nobles and priests. Their middle class was made up of warriors, craftsmen and traders. The farmers, workers and slaves were at the bottom.

The Mayan people were also farmers. They had to clear huge sections of tropical rainforest. Groundwater was scarce in these areas, so they had to build large underground reservoirs to store the rainwater.

The Maya were good weavers and potters. They created trade routes. This allowed them to sell their own products and buy new ones.

The mayan skills

• The Ancient Maya developed :the science of astronomy, calendar systems and the hieroglyphic writing.

• They were popular for creating : pyramids,temples,palaces and observatories.

MAYAN CALENDARS

• The time keeping system of the Mayans was a combination of cycles, mixing the movements of the Sun, Moon, and Venus.

• Their sacred calendar called the Tzolkin was composed of 260 days: It contained 13 months.

• The second calendar was the civil calendar and consisted of 365 days.It was called the Haab. This calendar consisted of 18 months.

MAYAN RELIGION

• The Maya believed in a large number of nature gods. Some gods were considered more important and powerful than others.

• Itzamna - The most important Maya god was Itzamna..He was the god of fire who created the Earth. The Mayan believed that itzama gave them the calendar and writing.

• Kukulcan - Kukulkan was a powerful snake god whose name means "feathered serpent". He is often drawn to look like a dragon.

• Bolon Tzacab - Also known by the name Huracan . Bolon Tzacab was the god of storms, wind, and fire.

• Chaac - Chaac was the god of rain and lightning. He had a lighting axe that he used to strike the clouds and produce rain and storms.

• The kings of the Maya served as intermediaries between the people and the god.The priests were responsible for performing rituals to keep the people in the favor of the gods. They were very powerful . One of the rituals was animal and human sacrifices.

Can you identify the following gods?

MAYAN MASKS

• The masks were used in religious and cultural dances, as well as during war.

• The antique masks were used in wedding ceremonies,and also to commemorate births and deaths.

• The Mayan's also used

masks for entertainment.

LET’S CREATE A MAYAN MASK

1. Have a look to the following website:https://www.google.es/search?q=image&client=firefox-a&hs=M9o&rls=org.mozilla:ca:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=cPAGVLLXE8TE0QXtl4GQCw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=657#channel=sb&q=mayan+masks&rls=org.mozilla:ca:official&tbm=isch&imgdii=_

2. Choose one of the mask that you like best and draw it.

3. Colour the mask with felt tips.

4. Modelate and carve the mask with clay.

MAYAN ARCHITECTURE

• The Maya civilization is famous for its architecture. Many cities built large palaces, pyramids, and other public buildings that are still standing today. The buildings were covered with statues to honor their gods and their kings.

MAYAN BUILDINGS

Pyramids The Maya are known for their pyramids:

They had steep steps up the side that allow people to climb to the top.

They were built for religious purposes and for the gods.

PALACES

• Each Maya city had a

large palace for their king and the royal family.

• One of the most famous palace is the palace at Palenque built by King Pakal.

• It was covered with colourful hieroglyphics and carvings of the king and his family.

BALL COURTS

• The Maya also built giant ball courts where they played their game with a rubber ball.

• The courts had two long stone walls, sometimes built with sloped sides.

MAYAN WEAVERS

• In most Mayan villages, women weave cloth for: their families, ceremonies and also for artistic commercial purposes.

• Their designs are colourful with different patterns.

A MAYAN TAPESTRY

1. Have a look to the differents patterns: https://www.google.es/search?q=image&client=firefox-a&hs=M9o&rls=org.mozilla:ca:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=cPAGVLLXE8TE0QXtl4GQCw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=657#channel=sb&q=mayan+fabrics&rls=org.mozilla:ca:official&tbm=isch&imgdii=ufZrf0eogiwWDM%3A%3BqlySwFam3kixcM%3BufZrf0eogiwWDM%3A

2. Draw your own design and colour it .

3. Redecorate your design using small pieces of wool .

MINI MAYAN CITY

• In groups of five search information about mayan cities.

• In group will make a model of one important building.

QUIZ • 1.- Where did the ancient

Mayan live?

• 2.- In what continent is the Yucatan mainland?

• 3.- Can you name the different ancient mayan class societies?

• 4.- What were good the mayan people at?

• 5.- Where did the ancient mayan civilitation develop?

• 6.- Can you name some of the most important mayan’s gods?

• 7.- When did the mayan people use their masks?

• 8.- Tha mayan cilivitation is famous for:

• A) its pottery B) its architecture C) its gods.

• 9.- What are the most important buildings in a mayan city?

• 10.- Which was the most famous game that mayan people played?