Mayan Civilization Flashcards
1
Q
Mayan Civilization Introduction # 1
- most advanced in central/south america before europeans came
- Origin - 2600BC in Yucatan
- People - shared common religion, rituals, calendar BUT different dialects/ different heiroglyphics.
- Inventions - inherited from Olmec civilization, astronomy, math and calendar systems, heiroglyphic writing.
- Interaction with other Mesoamerican civilizations due to cultural diffusion - esp writing, epigraphy, calendar.
A
Mayan Civilization Introduction # 1
- most advanced ancient civilization in central & South America before arrival of Europeans.
- Origin - 2600BC, in Yucatan, prominence - 250AD in present day Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Northern Belize, Western Hoduras
- various groups of indegenous people who shared common religion, rituls, common calendar, to some degree a common writing system. They spoke different dialects, heiroglyphics depict this difference.
- Mayans inherited inventions and ideas of earlier civilizations such as the Olmec (1st major civilization in Mexico). Mayans developed astronomy, mathematical, and calendric systems and heiroglyphic writing.
- Mayans interacted with other Mesoamerican civilizations due to cultural diffusion and developed writing, epigraphy, calendar that were originally advanced by other civilizations.
2
Q
Mayan Civilization Introduction # 2
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Mayan Civilization Introduction # 2
- noted for elaborate and highly decorated ceremonial architecture - temple pyramids, palaces, and observatories, all built without metal tools.
- were skilled farmers, clearing large sections of tropical rain forest, building sizeable underground reservoirs for the storage of rainwater.
- highest state of development during 300AD - 900AD.
- After 900 AD, Maya declined mysteriously in the southern areas, but continued to thrive until the arrival of the Europeans.
- Cause for decline - mystery, maybe land did not produce enough crops for the population, or maybe the mayans slowly little by little started to migrate. Theories of war and disease not really reason because there are no grave sites.
- Today - big population of Mayan descendants that still maintain Mayan set of traditions and beliefs.
3
Q
Mayan City-State and Government # 1
- Mayan City states
- Similar to Greeks
- Unlike Greeks
- Typical mayan city
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Mayan City-State and Government # 1
- Mayans influenced a large territory
- Mayan City-States – independent & intertwined.
- Like Greeks - Same language, same system of counting, worshipped same gods, told the same myths, had same laws, wore same style clothing. They thought of themselves as one people
- Unlike the ancient Greeks – Mayan cities were interconnected with marvelous roads.
- Archeologists believe there were hundreds of mayan cities before.
- Each mayan city had - a palace, some temples, some pyramids, a central marketplace, a ball court.
4
Q
Mayan City-State and Government # 2
- Hierarchy - city-state ruled by a noble family. Same family ruled forever. Crown was handed down from father to son.
The Mayan society had a complex class structure, broken into four categories:
- Priest - made decisions about govt, war, trade, religious ceremonies. Fewest members.
- Nobility - rich, owned lots of land. One family of nobles ruled, hand picked others - govt workers, merchants, craftsmen etc. Nobles paid no taxes, worked at important jobs that required intelligence and training. More members than priests but less than peasants
- Peasants - lived in outlying agricultural areas. They were hard workers who gave away many of their crops and laboured hard and long for others. They were not allowed to own anything of value, have an education or be trained for a skill or craft. The largest group in the population was peasants.
- Slaves - lowest level. They included captured enemies, criminals, orphans, and slave’s children. They were not mistreated but had to do all the manual work needed in building and hauling. They had no rights, no belongings. Priests used slaves for ceremonial sacrifice.
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Mayan City-State and Government # 2
- Hierarchy - city-state ruled by a noble family. Same family ruled forever. Crown was handed down from father to son.
The Mayan society had a complex class structure, broken into four categories:
- Priest - Religion main part of government. High priest had supreme authority over all lesser priests and citizens.They made decisions about government, war, trade, religious ceremonies. Peasants paid a tax to support priests called mita - using crops as well as labour. Priests lived in temples. Priest class had fewest members.
- Nobility - rich with material goods, owned lots of land. One family governed each city and hand selected others. This group included - military officers, government workers, architects, merchants, traders, skilled craftsmen. Nobles paid no taxes, worked at important jobs that required intelligence and training. They lived in housing near plazas that surrounded the pyramids and buildings. The nobility had more members than the priests, but fewer than peasants. Power was hereditary, passing to the oldest son. The nobles right to rule originated with the Hero Twins. Each noble family was supposedly a direct descendant of one of the Hero Twins. They were supposed to be directly related to the gods. They thought of themselves as so important that they had their attendants hold a cloth in front of their face so no one could talk to them directly.
- Peasants - lived in outlying agricultural areas. They were hard workers who gave away many of their crops and laboured hard and long for others. They were not allowed to own anything of value, have an education or be trained for a skill or craft. If the slaves were not sufficient, peasants were chosen to be sacrificed in a religious ceremony. The largest group in the population was peasants.
- Slaves - lowest level. They included captured enemies, criminals, orphans, and slave’s children. They were not mistreated but had to do all the manual work needed in building and hauling. They had no rights, no belongings and only one set of clothes at a time. Priests used slaves for ceremonial sacrifice.
5
Q
Mayan Civilization - Environment # 1
Mayan Civilization - inhabited mesoamerica - Highlands and Lowlands.
The Lowlands
- __southern portions - rainforests, dense forests, swamps, bajos, savannas
- northern portions - drier forests with small thorny trees. Dry season =feb to may. Slash and burn agriculture.
- Lowlands mainly produced crops, also grew squash, beans, and cotton.
- not as resourceful as the Highlands, but important for trade and transportation.
A
Mayan Civilization - Environment
Mayan Civilization - inhabited mesoamerica - Highlands and Lowlands.
The Lowlands
- southern portions - covered by rainforests, height 150 feet. dense forests with scattered savannas, swamps, bajos.
- northern portions - forests but drier, had small thorny trees. Feb-May: dry season - intensely hot and uncomfortable air. Fields cut and burned (Slash & Burn form of agriculture - cutting down trees and slashing and burning trunks lead to ashes that made the soil rich for the next harvest) Skies filled with smoky grit - unbearable till rains came in May.
- Lowlands mainly produced crops, also grew squash, beans, and cotton.
- not as resourceful as the Highlands, but important for trade and transportation.
6
Q
Mayan Civilization - Environment # 2
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The Highlands
- volcanic land- precious jewels, metals
- rivers - Usumacinta & Grijalva
- rainfall - from May through early december
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Farming
- __used farming technique called milpa - slash & burn
- practised crop rotation
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Illness
- Environment played large role in health and illness.
- Tea, Massages, Sauna - used for remedy
- Spanish infectious diseases with them - which spread.
- Illness was thought of as disfavour of gods or evil spirits - sorcerors were used to give remedies.
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Mayan Civilization - Environment # 2
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The Highlands
- volcanic land - source of obsidian, jade, precious metals like cinnabar, hematite
- rivers - Usumacinta & Grijalva - important form of transportation - for people, trade and materials.
- rainfall - in well defined rainy season - from May through early december. Climate is cool & dry.
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Farming
- used farming technique called milpa - slash and burn
- they cleared land by cutting and burning all plants in the spring, before the rains.
- The ashes made the soil rich with nutrients for prosperous planting
- Then they would plant their crops by poking digging sticks into the ground and planting the seeds in the holes.
- The slash & burn technique meant that fields would be fertile only for a few years.
- the Mayans practised crop rotation to get more growing seasons out of the field.
- Illness
- Environment played large role in health and illness.
- Plants used to create tea - to cure headaches, skin irritations, wounds.
- massage given by Shamans - important remedy to cure diseases.
- Sauna - used for sweating to cure diseases
- Spanish people brought infectious diseases with them - which spread.
- Illness was thought of as disfavour of gods or evil spirits - sorcerors were used to give remedies.
7
Q
Mayan Religion
- many different gods
- Variety of religious festivals
- Ruler - Halach Uinic
- 13 layers of heaven above, 9 underworlds below
- ceremonies included gifts and sacrifices to various gods
- they worshipped their ancestors and the dead.
- they built pyramids for their dead rulers.
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Mayan Religion
- was important to every part of Mayan life
- worshipped many different gods
- each day, month, city & occupation had its own special god or goddess
- variety of religious festivals and celebrations, these celebrations included human sacrifice
- Mayan Empire - divided into many city - states, each city-state had its own ruler. His name was *halach uinic - *the true or real man.He was considered living god and ruled until his death. After his death, his son became halach uinic. If no son, his brother would rule. If no brother, council elected a member of family to rule. Halach Uinic also served as high priest during religious ceremonies.
- The Halach Uinic dressed in elaborate and colourful clothes. many priests served with him. These priests named ahkin performed many duties.
- They believed there were 13 layers of heavens above the earth. They also believed there were nine underworlds below.
- Many religious ceremonies included gifts and scarifices to various gods and goddesses. sacrifices included gifts, their own blood and human sacrifices, so the gods would favour them. sometimes they were thrown in the Well of sacrifice, famous of these is the Well of sacrifice at *chichen itza. *
- The Mayans also worshipped the dead. They worshipped their ancestors as well.* *They also built pyramids over the sacred remains of their **dead rulers. **
8
Q
The Mayan Daily Life
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Roles
- Women - woke up early, made breakfast, stayed home. She made baths ready for men when they returned home. She would spin cotton and weave after dinner. daughters followed their mothers.
- Men - left to go to their fields after breakfast, to harvest maize. By midafternoon they returned home, checked their traps for meat on the way back. they made wooden and jade objects for trade after dinner. Sons followed their fathers.
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Marriage
- Girls stayed home and learned how to cook, spin yarn, weave and clean the house, till they were wed. They married at 14, men at 18. Their parents and priests negotiated their marriage. The girls’ parents paid a dowry.
- Unmarried boys lived in communal house where they learnt about crafts , warfare and played games.
- Slaves - worked in homes of noble families.
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_Appearance _
- Height - 4’ 8” to 5’. They had straight black hair, flattened forehead and used tattoos and piercings for decoration.
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Clothing and Body image
- Farmers - loincloths, Women - loose sack like dresses.
- Priests - finer material with shells and beads, head dresses.
- Nobles - bathed often, had tattoos, piercings, wore fancy embroidered clothing and fine jewellery.
A
The Mayan Daily Life
-
_Roles _
- Women - woke up early, made breakfast, stayed home. She made baths ready for men when they returned home. She would spin cotton and weave after dinner. daughters followed their mothers.
- Men - left to go to their fields after breakfast, to harvest maize. By midafternoon they returned home, checked their traps for meat on the way back. they made wooden and jade objects for trade after dinner. Sons followed their fathers.
-
Marriage
- Girls stayed home and learned how to cook, spin yarn, weave and clean the house, till they were wed. They married at 14, men at 18. Their parents and priests negotiated their marriage. The girls’ parents paid a dowry.
- Unmarried boys lived in communal house where they learnt about crafts , warfare and played games.
- Slaves - worked in homes of noble families.
-
_Appearance _
- Height - 4’8” to 5’ tall.
- straight black hair and flattened foreheads
- crossed eyes were considered beautiful.
- Tattoos and piercing were used for decoration
-
Clothing and body image
- Farmers - loincloths, Women - loose sack like dresses.
- Priests - finer material with shells and beads, head dresses.
- Nobles - bathed often, had tattoos, piercings, wore fancy embroidered clothing and fine jewellery.
-
Mayan Writing
- no written language, but heiroglyphics (prescribed set of pictures). They are found in groupings.
- Some glyphs symbolized different animals, plants, structures or people. There were many for nature such as sun, moon and rain.
- Heiroglyphics covered Stelas (the big stone slab they built to tell story of special occasions and events) Heiroglyphics were used on temple walls and pillars.
- mayans wrote books called Codices (Codex - singular) that recorded the mayan stories. Some Codices talked about religious ceremonies, some of great hunts in rain forests and others detailed duties of each person.
- Only 3 Codices have been located and are now in Europe. it is believed that the spanish destroyed a lot of these Codices because they thought that worshipping nature was evil.
- To decipher (to decode, to understand) some of these glyphs, missionaries used natives to locate the glyph on buildings and match it to one in a Codice.
- A codex was made from the bark of a tree (fig tree bark softened in lime water to form a pulp) from the rain forest. Ink was made from dyes found in plants or in the ground.
- codex was in form of accordion style with deer skin cover.
9
Q
Mayan Writing
- They used Heiroglyphics - prescribed set of pictures
- Heiroglyphics covered Stelas - (the big stone slab they built they they built to tell story of special occassions and events)
- Codices - books that recorded Mayan stories.
A
Mayan Writing
- no written language, but heiroglyphics (prescribed set of pictures). They are found in groupings.
- Some glyphs symbolized different animals, plants, structures or people. There were many for nature such as sun, moon and rain.
- Heiroglyphics covered Stelas (the big stone slab they built to tell story of special occasions and events) Heiroglyphics were used on temple walls and pillars.
- mayans wrote books called Codices (Codex - singular) that recorded the mayan stories. Some Codices talked about religious ceremonies, some of great hunts in rain forests and others detailed duties of each person.
- Only 3 Codices have been located and are now in Europe. it is believed that the spanish destroyed a lot of these Codices because they thought that worshipping nature was evil.
- To decipher (to decode, to understand) some of these glyphs, missionaries used natives to locate the glyph on buildings and match it to one in a Codice.
- A codex was made from the bark of a tree (fig tree bark softened in lime water to form a pulp) from the rain forest. Ink was made from dyes found in plants or in the ground.
- codex was in form of accordion style with deer skin cover.
