Mayan Webpage by

Mayan Climate and Topography

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-23 05:31:53 UTC

Mayan Map

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-23 05:38:09 UTC

Mayan Class Structure

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-23 05:41:47 UTC

Mayan Religion

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-23 16:51:41 UTC

Gods of Nature:The Mayas worshipped the gods of nature every day. Worshiping their gods was a huge part of their daily life.

Some of their gods included the God of Rain, Lady Rainbow, the God of Maize (corn), and of course, the God of Sun.

Without the help of these important gods, there would be no crops and everyone would starve.

Afterlife:The Mayas believed in an afterlife. Commoners buried their dead inside their homes, under the floor. That way, they could live with their ancestors and keep their ancestors easily posted on their daily life. The Mayas believed they would be compensated. If they had a rough time or a rough life, this would be made up to them in their afterlife.

Nobles were buried in tombs.

The Underworld:Maya religion was far more complicated than the simple worship of gods of nature. The Maya world was composed of 3 layers - the Heavens, the Earth, and the Underworld, sometimes called the Otherworld or the Place of Awe.

The Mayas conducted many ceremonies to keep the demons, creatures and gods in the Underworld, where they belonged.

Masks:During certain religious ceremonies, priests dressed up like jaguars. Priests wore scary masks as they faced the inhabitants of the Underworld. Priests wanted to present themselves as equally scary and powerful.

Mirrors:All of the men, but none of the women, used mirrors. In the ancient Maya world, looking into a mirror was an act of courage. The Maya believed that monsters from the Place of Awe could reach through the mirror, and yank you into the Otherworld.

Priests:Maya daily life and culture was wrapped around their religion. The priests decided nearly everything in the Mayas daily life. The priests decided when to plant, when to marry, and who to sacrifice.

Mayan Weapons

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-25 04:13:57 UTC

Weapons and Warfare

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-25 04:16:25 UTC

The Maya are a race that has existed for about 3,000 years. In this large time span much has happened. The Maya have built temples, learned how to use the land, hunt, and much more. This page will only feature a small part in this races history, their battle. Upon a field hundreds maybe thousands of fearless soldiers grasp in they’re hands spears of wood with obsidian tips, shields beautifully decorated with colorful feathers of red, yellow, green, and blue. Arrows fly through the air, whizzing past the heads of their foes this is a Mayan battle taking place.
In the ninth century the Mayan empire collapsed into a heap of destruction and war. Chaos rained over the Yucatan peninsula and the Maya lifestyle was changed forever. Maya warfare was mostly about gods, not about tactics although they did use some war tactics. The god of war, Sun jaguar was the main Maya god. Before every battle warriors would ask for his help in the battle. The spiritual part of battle was used just as much as the material part of battle. When the conqueror of Guatemala, Pedro de Alvarado fought the Quiche Maya in 1523 they charged him disguised as eagles and lightning only to be brought down by the superior Spanish forces.
Weapons were needed in warfare unless you were using your bare fists. Some of their spectacular weapons were:

1. Bow and Arrow

A projectile weapon used for long range combat. This weapon was created approxamatly 2,500 years ago.

2. Knife

A close range blade used for stabbing.

3. Spear

An either close or long range weapon. It is a long pole with a blade at the tip. It could be thrown or used as a sabbing weapon.

4. Atlatl (spear thrower)

A device used for throwing the spear. The spear was placed in a groove on the Atlatl then the atlatl was strapped to the arm. After throwing the spear the tip of the spear (a dart) was projected out of the spear into the pray. After the battle was over the spear part (not the dart) could be retrived.

5. Club (maquahuitl)

This was somewhat like a log used to crush the enemy, not stab them. The club was widely used.

6. Sickle

A curved blade used for cutting grass. It could also be used for battle.

This is how Maya fought and what they used for fighting.

Mayan Economy

greenjolly16 — 2013-04-25 04:35:07 UTC

Trade in Maya civilization was a vital element in maintaining cities. The economy was based primarily on the trading of food like corn, squash, and beans. They also bartered for almost any other basic need because it was essential in their supply and demand economy. The types of trade differed significantly, from long-distance trading spanning the length of the Mayan region and beyond, to small trading between farm families. This long distance trade surely went along with the exchange of writing, mathematical skills as well as astronomical knowledge between groups.

The rise of merchants facilitated growth in the middle class as well as the elite class of many communities. Cacao beans were worth transporting for long distances because they were luxury items. A large tomato was worth one bean, a turkey egg was 3 beans, 4 cocoa beans could buy a pumpkin, and 100 could buy a rabbit or a good turkey hen, and 1000 a slave. Possible the most important goods involved in long distance trade were Salt, Obsidian, Jade, Cacao and Quetzal feathers.

The large cities acted as redistribution centers where traders obtained merchandise to sale in smaller cities. The largest known trading center was Tikal. Many goods where exchanged, but primarily the every day goods such as clothes, fruits, vegetables, meat, and pottery. Even the best farmers had to trade some of their crop to purchase salt, chocolate and other merchandise.
http://utaspring2009mesoamerica.blogspot.com/2009/05/mayan-trade-and-economy.html