Library Units > Maya Unit


can8602_16, El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexicophoto © 1986 Jim G | more info (via: Wylio)


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About the Maya Unit

The ancient Maya had a highly structured civilization that prospered in southern Mexico and Central Mexico around the year 1000 AD until the 1500s when they were discovered, conquered and almost totally destroyed by the invading Spanish. Prior to the 1500s, they had one of the most advanced Native American civilizations in the western hemisphere.

Without metal tools, they erected great stone pyramids and temples. They carved beautiful stone sculptures and painted elaborate murals. They recorded their history in hieroglyphs and experienced achievements with astronomy, mathematics and contemporary calendars and almanacs. Unlike many highly developed civilizations, they did not totally vanish. Today's Mayan descendants comprise large segments of Mexico and Guatemala. They continue to speak their ancient language and in some cases worship the ancient gods among the ruins of pyramids and temples.

Their civilization leaves us with several enduring questions:

  1. What elements were in place that allowed the Maya to flourish for more than six hundred years?
  2. What factors might have contributed to their eventual collapse?
  3. Could the Mayans have done something to avoid the collapse of their civilization?

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Assignment

You have each been assigned to a specific group that addresses the following elements of Mayan civilization:

  1. cultural history
  2. material culture
  3. intellectual culture
  4. societal development

Each group must research four/five areas within the group framework. After researching your areas, you must do the following:

  1. Elect a group leader
  2. Decide on a presentation format.
  3. Prepare a presentation that incorporates each member's research and summarizes it.
  4. Deliver an 8 minute four/person group presentation to the class.
  5. Cite at least two books and three Internet sites concerning your area.
  6. Write a three page full sentence outline that provides information concerning your research findings, while taking notes in Noodle Tools.

    Click here to see an abbreviated sample of a full sentence outline.

  7. Take notes in Noodle Tools.
  8. Correctly cite all of your sources using Noodle Tools.

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Syllabus

  • Monday, Dec. 13 (in-class):
    - Research books and Internet sites for relevant information on the assigned question.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 14 (in-class):
    - Continue researching print and online materials for information.
  • Wednesday, Dec. 15 (drop-day):
    - Note-cards, including appropriate citations/bibliography due by 1st period to Ms. Rajen
  • Thursday, Dec. 16 (in-class):
    - Work on outline; Three page sentence outline due by end of school day.
  • Friday, Dec. 17 (in-class):
    - Gather with group to plan and complete an 8 minute presentation.
  • Monday, Jan. 3 (in-class):
    - Deliver group presentation to classmates.
  • Tuesday, Jan. 4 (in-class):
    - Deliver group presentation to classmates.

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Research Hints

  1. Underline the key search terms in your assignment.
  2. Use them to search the indexes and table of contents of relevant books on the cart.
  3. Click on Eagle Eyes and type in the keyword rajen for a listing of appropriate web sites.

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Group 1 - Cultural History

Maya civilization cannot be seen as an isolated development. Beyond sharing common roots in language and tradition, the ancient Maya were very much a part of a larger cultural area, one that has come to be known as Mesoamerica.

  1. Define the area of distribution of ancient ruins of the Maya civilization and the known extent of peoples still speaking the Mayan language. Creation of maps is necessary for this question.
    Books: El Salvador by Bachelis (NL006638) pp. 21-24; The Ancient Maya by Morley, et al. (SU021111) pp. 19-24.
  2. When looking into the origins of the ancient Maya civilization, who were their predecessors? What parts of the societies that came before them helped to shape Mayan civilization?
    Books: A Brief History of Central America by Foster, et. al. pp. 13-17 (NU026778); Great Ages of Man, A History of the World's Culture by Leonard pp. 11-18 (NU007044).
  3. What are the pre-classic eras of the Mayas (define the time periods within the overarching category)? What developments occurred during these time periods?
    Books: The New Archaeology and the Ancient Maya by Sabloff (NU017860) pp. 112-117; The Ancient Americas by Bray (NU009147) pp. 100-101; The Mystery of Ancient Maya by Meyer (NU022975) p. 71.
  4. What are the classic and post-classic time periods of the ancient Maya (define the time periods, the areas that developed, and the cultural expansions that occurred).
    Books: The Ancient Americas by Bray (NU009147) pp. 100-101; The Mystery of Ancient Maya by Meyer (NU022975) p. 71; The New Archaeology and the Ancient Maya by Sabloff (NU017860) pp. 112-117

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Group 2 - Material Culture

The knowledge of the ancient Maya society rests upon inferences drawn from the physical remains of past activity. Specifically, archaeological sites that have been unearthed have provided the only evidence upon which many ideas have been reported.

  1. What are the functions of the buildings that have been discovered at the ancient Maya sites? What do these buildings show us about the civilization or the city-state?
    Books: Lost Kingdoms of the Maya by Stuart (SL012470) pp. 112-133; Pyramids by George (NL016137) pp. 45-50
  2. What do the archaeological sites tell us about the ancient Maya society?
    Books: Let's Travel in Mexico (NU007442) p.21; Monuments of Civilization by Ivanoff (NL006639) whole book ; The Mayans, Illustrated Historical Profile (NU024077) whole book
  3. What do we learn about the culture of the Maya through the ceramics/pottery that has been discovered at the archaeological sites?
    Books: Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya by Miller (NU028605) pp. 32-47; Mexico: A History of Art by Smith (NU004001) pp. 38-97
  4. Many arts and crafts artifacts have not survived, but those that have present important material about the ancient Maya civilization. Identify some the materials used, purpose of the artifacts discovered, and what those artifacts reveal about the Maya civilization or individual city-states as a whole.
    Books: El Salvador (NU022046) pp. 92, 94; The Ancient Maya by Morley (SU021111) pp. 393-445

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Group 3 - Intellectual Culture

Every civilization develops ideas that provide order and rule and explains the unknown. Evidence of a distinct culture can be found in such elements as a civilization's written and oral language, their calendar, system of mathematics, and religious rites and ceremonies. Your group needs to provide information about Mayan intellectual culture that sheds light on how the Mayans dealt with problems and concerns that were larger than the daily struggle for food, clothing, and shelter.

  1. Research some of the religious ceremonies and rituals of the Maya surrounding:
    a. bloodletting, b. puberty, c. marriage, d. fertility, e. death (mourning) and g. human sacrifice.
    Books: The Ancient Maya by Moreley, et. al. (SU021111) p. 68, 232-235, 243-245, 469-475, 217-218, 490-491, 493, 250-251, 250-251; Everyday Life of the Maya by Whitlock (SU010831) pp. 70-78; Song of the Quail by Karen (SL014810) pp. 45.47, 90, 92, 114; 90. 102, 136, 21,24, 47,61,63-64,72,123, 96-97. The Riddle and Discovery of a Lost Civilization by Gallenkamp pp. 105-124 (selected pages)
  2. Research the language and writing of the Maya. Be sure to mention Bishop de Landa's and the damage he did to Mayan intellectual culture.
    Books: Everyday Life of the Maya by Whitlock SU010831 pp. 5-6,32,155; 113-116, 119, 136-138,142,155,157,162,164; Maya Script by Longhena (NU031359); pp. 165-171; Secrets in Stone by Coulter (NL013328) pp. 24-29; and The Ancient American World by William Fash and Mary E. Lyons (SL020173) pp. 46-58; Song of the Quail by Ruth Karen (SL014810) pp. 88-89; Great Ages of Man Ancient America by Jonathan Norton Leonard (NU007044), p. 42.
  3. Research the Mayan's calendar, their form of mathematics and their knowledge of astronomy and practice of astrology.
    Books: The Story of Clocks and Calendars: Marking a Millenium by Betsy Maestro (SL015891) pp. 20-22; Everyday Life of the Maya by Ralph Whitlock, pp. 35, 106-112, 142, Ancient Mysteries by Peter James and Nick Thorpe (SL016278) pp.100-101; Lords of Creation by Virginia M. Fields and Dorie Reents-Budet (NU030664) pp. 28-29, 189 and Great Ages of Man Ancient America by Jonathan Norton Leonard (NU007044), p. 42.
  4. Research what were some of the possible causes for the decline and eventual fall of the Mayan Empire. Be sure to include the Spanish conquest.
    Books: Ancient Mysteries by Peter James and Nick Thorpe (SL016278) pp. 16, 86-95, Lost Kingdoms of the Maya by Gene S. Stuart and George E. Stuart (SL012740) pp. 212-215, and The Ancient Americas by Earl H. Swanson et. al (NU009147) pp. 103-104.

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    Group 4 - Society

    Mayan social, agricultural, and political organization is an indication of a highly developed society. Your group needs to provide information about how Mayan society was configured so that they had food beyond a subsistence level, had time to enjoy games, trade with neighboring Mayan city-states, and unfortunately wage war against them.

    1. Research how the Mayans provided food for themselves including descriptions of various dishes and drinks made from the crops they grew.
      Books: Everyday Life of the Maya by Ralph Whitlock (SU010831) pp. 32-39; The Riddle and Discovery of a Lost Civilization Maya by Charles Gallenkamp (SU010817), pp. 130-134 + other pages listed in the index under Agriculture
    2. Research how the Mayan society was organized. Were there distinct classes of peoples with different rights and privileges?
      Books: The Riddle and Rediscovery of a Lost Civilization Maya by Charles Gallenkamp, (SU010817) pp. 63-64,110-114, 112-120 + other pages in the index under "nobility, ruling hierarchies, and social classes". Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya by Mary Miller and Simon Martin (NU028605) pp. 16-48 , 93-101
    3. Research the daily life of the Mayans. How did they spend their time? What games did they play? What type of arts flourished? How did they dress, wear their hair, etc.?
      Books: Song of the Quail by Ruth Karen (SL014810) pp. 7-21, 50-70 , 122-123; Aztec, Inca & Maya by Elizabeth Baquedano (SL017109) pp. 14-15, 20-21, 58-59, 42-58.
    4. Research how the Mayans developed their economy by a system of trade and tribute.
      Books: Aztec, Inca and Maya by Elizabeth Baquedano, (SL017109), pp. 26-27, Everyday Life of the Maya by Ralph Whitlock, (SU010831) pp. 50, 61, and 138
    5. Research the evidence provided by various archaeologists that the Mayas often waged war against other Mayan cities and took captives. Describe how it must have been a constant source of tension and drain on their economic resources.
      Books: Ancient Mysteries by Peter James and Nick Thorpe (SL016278), pp. 78-86, The Mystery of the Ancient Maya by Carolyn Meyer and Charles Gallenkamp, (NU022975), pp. 136-139

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      Prepared by K. Craver and L. Lennon 12/2009