03.01 study guide
objectives of this lesson:
• describe aspects of mayan culture
• compare the emergence of mayan culture to the four early river valley civilizations
questions to
-how were the maya able to establish a civilization even though they lacked river resources?
specific questions to
1. in what countries would the mayan be in today if they were still around?
2. describe the following geographical regions of the mayans:
a. yucantan peninsula:
b. northern lowlands:
c. central lowlands:
d. southern lowlands:
e. northern highlands:
f. southern highlands:
g. pacific coastal plan:
3. **now that you have addressed the geographical regions, explain what the mayans did since they did not have a major river
-in what way was the structure of mayan society similar to that of the early river civilizations?
specific questions to
1. in what ways did the mayans reflect the egyptians?
2. how was power passed down in the mayan culture?
3. what physical structure did the mayans build that were similar to the egyptians?
4. what was the main crop for the mayans?
5. what kind of foods did the mayans grow?

-why did mayan rulers perform bloodletting rituals?
specific questions to
1. like many early civilizations, the mayans government was that of a theocracy. what is a theocracy?
2. what is the purpose of bloodletting?
3. were the mayans monotheistic or polytheistic? how do you know?
4. why did the mayans sacrifice?

-what role did nature play in mayan religion?
specific questions to
1. who were the shamans and why were they important?
2. why were mountains, springs, and caves important to the mayans?
3. what did the mayans believe the gods controlled?

-how were the intellectual achievements of the maya similar to that of the ancient river valley civilizations?
specific questions to
1. what kind of writing did the mayans have that was similar to the egyptians?
2. what were the mayans codices and what were they made from?
3. what famous number did the mayans use?
-how did farming technology aid the rise of mayan civilization?
specific questions to
1. why was the “slash-and-burn agriculture” strategy and important technique?
2. just like the egyptians, what did the mayans create to control their water?
3. what is the definition of a drought?
4. just like the early egyptians, what science did the mayans practice by looking at the stars?
5. as a result of understanding the stars, what were the mayans able to create just like the egyptians?
-how did cities that lacked resources succeed in mayan civilization?
specific questions to
1. would you say the mayans used coins or bartered? what evidence can you use to support your answer?
2. who did the mayans use for delivery of their trading items?
-what are some possible reasons for the decline of mayan civilization? what role did the spanish play?
specific questions to
1. how might a growing population affect the decline of a civilization?
2. how can drought affect the decline of a civilization?
3. how can soil erosion affect the decline of a civilization?
4. were the internal conflicts among the mayans? what evidence can you provide?
5. who were the spanish conquistadors? did they or hurt the mayans?
6. why do you think most people in central america today speak spanish?