Maya Civilizatio

n

The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known

fully developed written language of the pre-

Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and

astronomical systems, Initially established during

the Pre-Classic period (c. 2000 BC to AD 250).

Geography

₪ The ancient Maya civilization occupied the eastern third of Mesoamerica, primarily the Yucatan Peninsula. 

₪ The Maya civilization extended throughout the present-day southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, and the Yucatán Peninsula states of Quintana Roo, Campeche and Yucatán. The Maya area also extended throughout the northern Central American region, including the present-day nations of Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and extreme northern El Salvador

Uxmal 

Tikal

 Chichén Itzal 

Political Organization

₪ In both the priesthood and the ruling class, nepotism was apparently the prevailing system under which new members were chosen.

₪ Primogeniture was the form under which new kings were chosen as the king passed down his position to his son. After the birth of a heir, the kings performed a blood sacrifice by drawing blood from his own body as an offering to his ancestors.

Culture

Contrary to popular belief, the Mayan civilization was not one unified empire, but

rather a multitude of separate entities with a

common cultural background.

Art

The art of the Maya, as with every civilization, is a reflection of their lifestyle and culture. The art was composed of delineation and painting upon paper and plaster, carvings in wood and stone, clay and

stucco models, and terra cotta figurines from molds.

Mayan Writing

The Dresden Codex

The Paris Codex

The Madud Codex

The Grolier Codex.

Mayan Mathematics

Used a base number of 20. (Base 20 is vigesimal.)

Mayan calendar

Thanks