MesoAmericans

1
MesoAmericans
2
Land of the Maya

• Inhabited the Yucatan Peninsula

3
Three Regions

• Southern - steep, rocky mountains
• Central - dense tropical lowlands
• Northern - dry, few rivers, limestone wells

4
Main Cities

• Tikal
• Palenque
• Mayapan
• Uxmal
• Chichen Itza
• Copan
• Tulum

5
Classic Period

• c. 300 A.D. to c. 900 A.D.
• large, well organized cities
• centers for practicing religion
• market places
• areas of storage
• roads
• schools

6
Leaders

• Noble lords ruled over city-states
• High priests had much power because of religious
  importance

7
Innovations

• Slash and burn farming
• The concept of 0 as a value for nothing
• architecture (pyramids)
• calendars
• measuring time
• astronomy

8
End of the Empire

• The empire mysteriously fell apart.
• There are many theories.
• Mayans left the cities and dwelled in the jungles.

9
Spanish Arrive

• By 1500, Mayan Empire no longer existed.
• A large population still inhabited the region.
• Spanish destroy books, churches, and art.

10
Review Questions

• What region did the Mayans inhabit?
• Who were the two main leaders in Mayan society?
• Name a couple innovations the Mayans are credited
  with?
• What did the Spanish do to take control of the
  area?

11
Works Cited

• Roth, Peter. Maya A simulation of Mayan
  civilization during the early seventh century.
  Lakeside, California Interaction Publishers,
  Inc., 1993.
• Schele, Linda. Rabbit in the Moon. Rabbit in
  the Moon. 05-10-99 \ 08-06-02 lthttp//www.halfmoo
  n.org/inuit.htmlgt.
• Warner Bros. lthttp//www.cartoonsounds.com/wbwav1.
  cfmgt.