mayans

• Mayan culture


  Very vibrant culture, they seemed to enjoy life to its fullest
• Mayan religion


  • Had dancing and singing as essential elements, despite having some suspicious aspects such as human sacrifice
• Major economic activities of the Mayans

  • Farming
  • Trading
• Mayan farming


  Most Mayans were farmers, corn or maize was the main crop cultivated
• Mayan land ownership


  • Mayans did not own land separately, but worked their fields communally
• Milpa


  A portion of corn-land given to each member of a tribe
• Crops cultivated by Mayan farmers

  • Corn
  • Beans
  • Squash
  • Pumpkins
  • Chili peppers
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Sweet cassava
• Other crops grown by Mayans

  Papayas and avocado pears around their houses
• Mayan trade


  There existed a brisk trade between the Mayan city-states, Mayan traders (Pochteca) even traded with states not part of the Mayan empire
• Religion was very important in every part of the Mayan life, festivals, games, music and dance were all part of religious ceremonies
• Mayan polytheism


  They worshipped 166 gods of all kinds, some were underworld, some walked the earth, and others ruled the sky and heavens
• Some important Mayan gods

  • Hunab Ku, the chief god
  • Kinich Ahau, the sun god
  • Chac, the rain god
  • Yum Kax, the corn god
  • Ah Kinchil, the god of the earth
• The Mayan gods could be good or bad so they were treated with great respect and were worshipped regularly
• Maya Social and Political Organization

  • Nobles
  • Priests
  • Merchants
  • Artisans
  • Peasants
  • Slaves
• Lord


  • Vwy power bc they hat the gods happy
  • war jede her and
• Artisans


  • Produced murals, sculptures, pottery and Codices that paid tribale to their gods
• Men's work


  1. Worked in Seids

  2. Woman managed the household
• They were a good, herd working can then they were rewarded by being able to attend a ceremony, royal wadding or belgame
• Slaves


  • Made up of supka chidren, war prisoners and criminals
  • Forced to do "grunt work ke grinding maize and chopping vees
  • Not pooty treated but often killed and buried with masse
• Halach Uinic


  • The head of each city-state
  • An absolute ruler
  • The title Halach Uinic means true man or real man
  • A hereditary office
  • Wore clothes that distinguished him from the general population
  • Wore expensive robes, covered with feathers and ornaments
  • Elaborate beaddress made of rare feathers, in jade and semi-precious stones
• Ah Kin


  • Priest
  • Very important in the Mayan society
  • Highest class
  • Controlled learning and de calculations of the calder
  • Observed the s and planets, kept reconds of the seasons and coudly prodicted eclips
  • Set and organized festivals
  • Made sacrifices
  • Determined when events, planting, harvesting, and trading ventures should take place
  • Decided when wars should be waged, when sew wmples abreld be built
• Batabs Batabobs


  • Government officials
  • Assisted with the running of the city states
  • Each village in a city-state was controlled by a Batab
  • Organized the division of land and work, made sure that the roads were kept in good condition and ensured that everyone paid taxes
  • Exempt from paying taxes
  • Entitled to a portion of the crops produced by the citizens
• Nacems


  • War Chiefs
  • Belonged to the nobility class
  • Exempt from paying taxes
  • Responsible for leading soldiers (which consisted largely of common people) into battles
  • Wars were often fought against other city-states to add to their territory and to get prisoners for slaves or sacrifices
• Merchants


  • Connected link between Mayan city-states
  • Traded goods such as corn, salt, smoked meat, died fish, hay, wood and animal skin
  • Also traded luxury items such as jade, carved shells, fine pottery and textiles
  • Travelled long distances to acquire particularly fine crafts for the nobles who bought their goods
  • Not expected to pay taxes
• Artisans


  • Skilled workers
  • Belonged to the working class
  • Able to pay taxes
• Peasants/Farmers


  • Did the farming, which was the main economic activity
  • Burdened with paying taxes
  • Set aside part of their corn crop for taxes
  • Spent spare time gathering forest products and making tools, ornaments, and household goods for sale to meet their tax bills
  • Wives gathered honey, wove cloth and made pottery
  • Had to work on building projects and also served as soldiers in times of war
• Slaves


  • Made up of surplus children, war prisoners and criminals
  • Forced to do "grunt work" like grinding maize and chopping trees
  • Not poorly treated but often killed and buried with master