Mayans Flashcards
What is Eurocentrism?
Eurocentrism is a Western perspective of a non-Western people, in this case, the Mayans.
What is the importance of Mayan civilization in the development of later American civilizations?
The Mayan civilization was the basis of many other Mesoamerican civilizations.
Where did the Mayans reside?
The Mayans resided in modern Yucatan, including Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Mexico.
What is the Mayan religion like?
The Mayan religion was a continuation of Olmec religion, polytheistic, and ritualistic. Blood sacrifice was an important element, but it did not always result in loss of life.
Who is Seven Macaw?
Seven Macaw is a key character in the Popol Vuh, a Mayan cosmogony.
What are some key elements of the Popol Vuh?
The Popol Vuh includes stories about playing sports vs. gods, heroes Hunahpu & Xbalanque (became sun &moon) defeating the Lords of Death, and the creation of humans out of corn.
What were the Mayans skilled at?
The Mayans were skilled at math, geometry, and astronomy. They independently developed the concept of zero. Calendars (bunch of them) are very accurate
What is Mayan writing like?
Mayan writing is a glyphic script that formed the basis of later Mesoamerican scripts. Europeans destroyed much of it in the 1500s. Written on bark paper (biodegradable) has been mostly deciphered.
What were Mayan sports like?
Mayans played ball games with a solid rubber ball, built courts & arenas as far back as 1400 BCE, and connected sports with religion. Began as rituals
