Want to create interactive content? It’s easy in Genially!
The mayan
M.B. GOMEZ
Created on March 21, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
Transcript
The mayan
civilisation
By Ariazu Domingo, Natalia Ibañez, Lola Mateo y Zulema Garcia.
Start
index
1. Summary
7. Religion
2. Characteristics
8. Art
3. Culture
9. Drink anD food
4. Economy
10. Closure
5. Politics
6. Society
Summary
The Mayan civilization was an ancient Mesoamerican culture notable for its advances in astronomy, mathematics, and writing. They lived in what are now Mexico, Guatemala, and other Central American countries, and built great cities with pyramids and temples. Their civilization ended before the arrival of Europeans.
Characteristics
Political organisation
Cities/estates governed by monarchs/priests.
Agricultural and commercial economics
The crop corn, cacao and trade with other cultures.
Polytheistic religion
Mathematics and astronomy
They believed in multiples gods relationated with nature, they made rituals.
They cretaed a numeric system with the concept of zero and accurate calendars with astronomic observations.
Monumental architecture
Hieroglyphic writing
They built pyramids, temples and palaces with advanced techniques.
They developed a complx system of writing to register their history.
Culture
City-state was made up of major cities and the surrounding areas. Some important ones are the city of Palenque ( or the Red City) and Chichen Itza. They played Ballgame, that symbolized their power and wealth. Two teams competed, those who lost were sacrified. Sweat-baths were also important. They were used for women after childbirth, perinatal care and sick people. Los Sapos in Xultun are an example.
Economy
The main economy activity in the mayas is the agriculture, where they cultivated corn, pumkings, frijoles and cotton. But they also practiced hunting, especially jaguars, deers, rabbits, monkeys, turtles and tapirs. They also fished.
How was the economy of the mayas organised?
Politics
The Maya did not unify into a single empire but instead consisted of numerous small city-states, each governed by its own king or "holy lord." These city-states frequently engaged in conflicts over resources, territory, and power, with warriors conducting raids on neighboring areas. Larger battles occasionally led to stronger cities conquering or destroying weaker ones.
Society
The mayan who ruled was a “descendente of gods”, he had a everything he needed provided by the commoners. However, commoners didn’t have such a nice life. They were usually farmers who worked in fields while his wife was making dinner. When he returned home, he had a bath, and after that, both women and men did crafts life textiles to sold later.
Religion
The Mayan religion was polytheistic and deeply connected to nature, the stars, and agricultural cycles. They believed in numerous gods, such as Itzamná (creator and sky god), Kukulkán (feathered serpent), and Chaac (rain god). They also practiced human sacrifice and rituals to maintain the balance of the universe. Their beliefs included the underworld (Xibalbá), the sky, and the Earth, and they had a complex sacred calendar for their ceremonies.
Art
Maya art featured grand architecture, intricate ceramics, and hieroglyphics. They depicted gods, kings, and warriors in carvings and paintings. Using bone, flint, and jade, they created detailed works despite lacking metal tools. Their art preserved history and showcased their advanced civilization.
Drinks and food
The mayas usually ate frijoles, pumking and corn, corn was also an aliment that they used for making drinks, such as atole. Also they ate fruits such as pineapple, avocado and papaya. An important drink is the balché that is the most important drinks in maya's cenemories, but also saká is an important drink for the mayas. It was made from half-cooked nixtamal.
Saká
Balché
Atole