10 Questions
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?
Corbel arch
Which of the following activities would you NOT typically see inside a Maya city?
Human sacrifices
Which building in a Maya city is on top of a stepped pyramid, built by stacking continually smaller platforms on top of each other?
Central temple
What type of books were commonly used by the Maya, made from tree-bark paper folded into several pages?
Codices
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?
Round count calendar
What is the significance of cenotes to the Maya civilization?
They are used for sacrificing maize and stone statues to appease the gods.
How do Maya individuals perceive their identity in terms of political organization?
They associate themselves with a specific city-state rather than a unified Maya empire.
What role does hunting play in the daily life of a Maya individual?
Hunting is crucial as it provides the main source of food.
What type of barriers do Maya individuals encounter when traveling through the jungle?
Navigating through dense vegetation and encountering jaguars.
What is the primary reason for Maya individuals to visit the city?
To conduct important business matters.
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.
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.
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