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Questions and Answers
What architectural feature unique to the Maya involves using increasingly longer stones in a doorway until they meet at the top, forming something like an arch?
Which of the following activities would you NOT typically see inside a Maya city?
Which building in a Maya city is on top of a stepped pyramid, built by stacking continually smaller platforms on top of each other?
What type of books were commonly used by the Maya, made from tree-bark paper folded into several pages?
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Which calendar system used by the Maya consists of a 365-day sun calendar and a 260-day moon calendar that interact in a 52-year cycle?
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What is the significance of cenotes to the Maya civilization?
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How do Maya individuals perceive their identity in terms of political organization?
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What role does hunting play in the daily life of a Maya individual?
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What type of barriers do Maya individuals encounter when traveling through the jungle?
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What is the primary reason for Maya individuals to visit the city?
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Study Notes
Maya City and Architecture
- The Maya use a unique architectural feature called a corbel arch, where increasingly longer stones are used in a doorway until they meet at the top, forming an arch, making walls stronger.
- This feature is only found in Maya cities in the Americas.
Maya Culture and Entertainment
- The Maya enjoy theater and art, with performances, statues, and wall murals found throughout the city.
- The traditional Maya play, the Rabinal Achí, tells a story from local mythology.
Central Plaza and Government
- The central plaza is the center of a Maya city, featuring important buildings, including government offices, palaces, and the central temple.
- The central temple is on top of a stepped pyramid, built by stacking smaller platforms on top of each other.
- The Ajaw, the king of the city, resides in the main palace.
Writing and Education
- The Maya have a true written language, with over 500 symbols representing words, sounds, or ideas.
- Only the very educated scribes are literate, as the writing system is complex.
Astronomy and Time
- Astronomy is crucial to the Maya, defining their calendar, a mixture of a 365-day sun calendar and a 260-day moon calendar.
- The two calendars interact in a 52-year cycle called the round count, which helps determine important dates for planting, harvesting, and sacrifices.
- For events beyond 52 years, the long count calendar is used, measuring time in thousands of years.
- The Maya believe time is cyclical, repeating itself while still moving forward.
Daily Life
- Maya people live in small stone or wood houses in the jungle, with a small farm on their land.
- Fresh water is obtained from nearby cenotes, but with caution, as these are believed to be dwellings of the gods.
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Description
Step into the shoes of an ancient Maya in the Yucatán Peninsula of Central America. Experience their daily life including living in a small house, tending to a farm, and speaking the Mayan language.
