The Maya Civilization

• Tenochtitlan was one of the largest cities in the world at the time, with over 200,000 inhabitants.
• They had an empire that covered much of central Mexico, with their capital city Tenochtitlan located on Lake Texcoco.
• They also had an extensive system of canals and aqueducts for transportation and irrigation.
• Their religion involved human sacrifice, which they believed would appease their gods and ensure good harvests.
• They built impressive pyramids and temples using stone masonry and intricate carving techniques.
• Chinampas are small plots of land made by piling mud from the lake bottom onto rafts of reeds or other vegetation.
• They also used a calendar based on cycles of the sun, moon, and planets.
• They also practiced polytheism, believing in multiple gods and goddesses associated with different aspects of nature and society.
• Mayan civilization was characterized by its advanced writing system, mathematics, astronomy, and architecture.
• The Mayans had an elaborate hieroglyphic script that included over 800 symbols representing words, syllables, and sounds.
• Mayan astronomers developed sophisticated methods to track celestial events such as eclipses and planetary movements.
• Mayan math consisted of a base-20 numbering system, including zero as a separate symbol.
• Mayan math involved concepts such as zero, place value, and algebra.
• Mayan cities were often located near bodies of water, allowing them to develop complex irrigation systems and support large populations.
• Mayan astronomers developed sophisticated methods to track celestial events like eclipses and planetary movements.
• Mayan mathematicians created a numbering system using base-20 arithmetic, which allowed them to perform complex calculations involving fractions and decimals.
• Mayan pyramids were built using precise engineering techniques and served both religious and practical purposes.
• Mayan architectural achievements include monumental stone structures like pyramids, temples, palaces, and ballcourts.
• Mayan cities were organized around central plazas or marketplaces where people gathered to trade goods and socialize.
• Mayan rulers held power through a combination of military might, political alliances, and religious authority.
• These buildings were often decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures depicting mythological scenes and historical events.
• Mayan art often incorporated geometric patterns and motifs inspired by the natural world.
• Mayan cities featured intricate stone carvings depicting scenes from daily life, mythology, and history.
• Mayan society was organized into city-states with their own rulers and political structures.
• Mayan mathematics was based on the concept of zero and used a vigesimal (base-20) counting system.
• Mayan religion revolved around the worship of gods associated with natural phenomena like rain, wind, and agriculture.
• Mayan writing was a combination of pictorial representations and phonetic signs, with some glyphs having multiple meanings depending on context.
• Mayan art featured intricate carvings, sculptures, and murals depicting mythological scenes and everyday life.
• Mayan civilization reached its peak during the Classic period from AD 300 to 900, characterized by impressive architectural achievements and cultural flourishing.
• The Mayans had an advanced understanding of astronomy and mathematics that enabled them to make accurate predictions about the movement of celestial objects.
• Mayan civilization was characterized by its impressive architectural achievements, with monumental structures built from stone and stucco.
• Mayan society was organized into city-states ruled by powerful kings or lords who held religious authority over their people.
• The Mayans had an advanced writing system that used hieroglyphics and was used to record historical events, religious beliefs, and scientific knowledge.
• Mayan art included intricate carvings on stone monuments, elaborate pottery designs, and colorful textiles featuring geometric patterns and animal motifs.
• The Mayans had an advanced writing system that used hieroglyphics and was used primarily for record keeping and communication between different city-states.
• Mayan art included intricate carvings on stelae (stone slabs) depicting historical events or important figures, as well as elaborate pottery and textiles featuring geometric patterns and animal motifs.
• Mayan religion revolved around the worship of deities associated with natural phenomena like rain, agriculture, and fertility.
• The Mayans had an advanced writing system that used hieroglyphics to record historical events, religious beliefs, and other important information.
• Mayan art included intricate carvings on stone monuments, elaborate pottery designs, and colorful textiles woven by skilled weavers.
• Mayan society was hierarchical, with elites holding most of the wealth and resources while commoners worked as farmers, artisans, and laborers.