Maya Civilization Quiz: Explore Life in Ancient Mesoamerica

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?

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?

What is the significance of cenotes to the Maya civilization?

How do Maya individuals perceive their identity in terms of political organization?

What role does hunting play in the daily life of a Maya individual?

What type of barriers do Maya individuals encounter when traveling through the jungle?

What is the primary reason for Maya individuals to visit the city?

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.

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.