Maya and Olmec Civilizations Quiz

Maya Civilization: A Summary

• Duration: Lasted 3,500 years, from approximately 2000 BCE to 1500 CE.
• Geographic Location: Present-day southern Mexico and large portions of Central America.
• Key City: Tikal (in present-day Guatemala) - ruins showcase impressive stone structures.
• Social Structure: Hierarchical, structured like a pyramid, with rulers at the top.
• Ruler (Halach Uinic): Considered a god-king, held highest authority, made decisions including war.
• Nobles and Priests: Second highest class, knowledgeable of reading and writing, administrative responsibilities, religious ceremonies, and sacrifices.
• Merchants and Artisans: Important for the economy via trade and crafts; skilled in creating art.
• Peasants: Primary labor for agriculture, growing essential crops (maize, beans, squash) and creating construction.
• Enslaved People: Performed manual labor for enslavers.

Maya Civilization: Development and Achievements

• Olmec Influence: Inheriting ideas from the Olmecs, who had agriculture, large religious centers, and calendar systems
• Agriculture (Olmec/Maya): Transition from hunting and gathering to permanent settlements in Mexico by 2000 BCE, resulting in farming and maize cultivation.
• Olmec Achievements: Developed large religious centers, monumental stone heads, and a solar calendar around 1400 BCE.
• Chronological Periods:
• Pre-Classic (2000 BCE – 200 CE): Early farming, simple homes, and increasing complexity. Development of writing system possibly by 300 BCE.
• Classic (200 CE – 900 CE): Height of the civilization, construction of great stone cities, elaborate temple-pyramids, accurate calendars, mathematics, and astronomy.
• Post-Classic (900 CE – 1500 CE): Continued warfare; fewer great achievements in art and culture focus; shift to Yucatán Peninsula.
• Classic Maya Empire: Numerous independent city-states (e.g., Tikal, Copan, Chichen Itza, Palenque), reaching over 50 cities at peak.
• Classic Period Collapse: Around 900 CE, Maya abandoned southern lowland cities; the cause is uncertain (e.g., drought, warfare, invasion).

Maya Civilization: Family Life and Religion

• Daily Life (Peasants): Women prepared meals and managed household tasks, including weaving and raising families. Men farmed and hunted.
• Ceremonies & Rituals: Childbirth ceremonies, coming-of-age (e.g., 12-girls, 14-boys), and marriage rituals.
• Marriage Customs: Arranged by village matchmakers, with considerations for resources.
• Religion: Polytheistic, with many gods (nature-related).
• Religious Practices: Honoring gods through offerings and blood sacrifice (animals, humans).
• Sacred Calendar: Two calendars: the daily solar calendar and the tzolkin (Sacred Round). Priests used them for planting, hunting, and religious acts.

Maya Civilization: Agriculture and Challenges

• Agricultural Techniques: Developed varied techniques adapted to the different environments. Examples include: terraces in highlands, raised platforms and canals in lowlands, and slash-and-burn in densely forested areas.
• Challenges: Increasing population and struggles to grow enough food, including struggles with dense forests, lack of water, and poor soil.
• Collapse of Classic Period: Possible reasons include: population outgrowing agricultural capability; extended drought; uncontrolled warfare; and/or outside invasions.

Maya Civilization: Legacy

• Continued Culture: Two million Maya still live in southern Mexico; millions in the Yucatán Peninsula and other areas of Central America.