A summary of the Mayan empire.

1. The Mayans By F.A., K.C., L.B. Period 2

2. Geography The Mayan homeland stretched from southern Mexico to central America In the north lowland; dry scrub forest of the Yucatan peninsula In the highlands is the dense, steamy jungle of southeastern Mexico and Guatemala The south also had a range of cool, cold weather in the mountains that are between Mexico and El Salvador. L.B

4. Food usually consisted of corn porridge or tortillas baked with vegetables.

5. Stone axes were used to maintain the farmland. Metal tools were not used.

6. Farmers grew a surplus of food to eat in the future.

7. Women brought the crops into markets to sell and trade.

8. Slash and burning farming was used. Farmers cut down trees in the area then burning them. The ashes were used to fertilize other crops.

9. Common crops were maize (corn ), beans squash, chill, peppers, cacao, and sweet potato.

10. Hunted wild turkey.

11. When growing season ended the were enslaved until next season.K.C.

12. Religion Religion was a great influence to the Mayans. Mayans worshiped nature gods in several ways. Mayans worshipped gods of sun, rain, and corn. They prayed and made offerings of food, flowers, and incense. Mayans pierced their bodies with sharp needles and offered their blood. Mayans also had rituals of human sacrifice. They gave importance to astronomy and the building of pyramids and temples. F.A.

14. Stones were used to build houses for the higher class.

15. Terraces were built on hillsides for farming plot.

16. Temples usually had two chambers.

17. Polished the stone blocks of each building. This substance was called lime substance.

18. The Mayans carved into the stone to create pictures on the walls of buildings.

19. Some temples and buildings were built accordingly to connect to religion and astronomy.K.C

20. Tikal is a huge ceremonial esplanade. Tikal has three big platforms. The temples were placed in the jungle. The wall are vertical with molded base corners. The stairs on the temples do not show any literal support. Some Tikal reach up to 70 meters high. Palaces stood like a trapezoid, 100 by 72 meters. Height depends on the type of land they live on. L.B. Cities, Temples, and Palaces

21. City Names Tulum: the Mayans called this city Tulum which means the wall in the Mayan tongue. Talcum's modern name is Zamá meaning “Sunrise”. Arose in A.D. 1200 Chichen Itza: means “mouth of the well of Itza”. The Chichen Itza is rated among the most important of the Maya culture. It was the capital of the second empire. Uxmal: is one of the most beautiful Mayan cities. Tikal: the largest known Mayan city. Tikal was home to more than 55,000 people in the year 700. F.A.

22. Culture The Mayans have created over 5000 traditional dances. Wooden flutes and trumpets were made of seashells, or clay. A popular game played was called Pok-A-Tok. Objective of the game is to move a hard rubber ball with out housing your hands or feet. The Mayans enjoyed chocolate drinks and food. Hieroglyphics were used as a writing system. The Mayans wrote on buildings field with stores and sentences. The most common stone used for jewelry was the jade. K.C.

23. http://mayas.mrdonn.org/index.html http://library.thinkquest.org/10098/mayan.htm http://www.mayadiscovery.com/ing/archaeology/architecture/astronomy.htm http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/elmer/infoCentral/frameset/civilizations/maya/cult/index.html http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1123-maya-civilization-cities-of-the-maya http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1123-the-maya-civilization-cities-of-the-maya http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/spirits/html/body_maya.html http://www.locogringo.com/past_spotlights/apr2002.html Bibliography