The document provides information about the ancient Mayan civilization, which was located in southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize and western Honduras. It describes Mayan society as having different classes, with nobles and priests at the top. It also discusses Mayan skills in astronomy, calendars, hieroglyphic writing, and architecture like pyramids, temples and observatories. The document outlines some key aspects of Mayan culture, such as religious beliefs, use of masks, and buildings.

1. THE ANCIENT
MAYAN CIVILITATION

2. Where was the Mayan
civilitation located?
The Ancient Mayan
lived in the Yucatán
around 2600 B.C.
Today, this area is
southernMexico,Gua
temala, northern
Belize and western
Honduras.

3. Can you find
Mexico on the
map?
Can you point at
Yucatán’s
mainland?

4. MAYAN PEOPLEThe Ancient Maya
had a class society.
At the top were the
nobles and priests.
Their middle class
was made up of
warriors, craftsmen
and traders. The
farmers, workers
and slaves were at
the bottom.

5. The Mayan people were also
farmers. They had to clear huge
sections of tropical rainforest.
Groundwater was scarce in these
areas, so they had to build large
underground reservoirs to store
the rainwater.
The Maya were good weavers
and potters. They created trade
routes. This allowed them to sell
their own products and buy new
ones.

6. The mayan skills
• The Ancient Maya
developed :the science of
astronomy, calendar
systems and the
hieroglyphic writing.
• They were popular for
creating :
pyramids,temples,palaces
and observatories.

7. MAYAN
CALENDARS• The time keeping system of the
Mayans was a combination of
cycles, mixing the movements of
the Sun, Moon, and Venus.
• Their sacred calendar called the
Tzolkin was composed of 260
days: It contained 13 months.
• The second calendar was the civil
calendar and consisted of 365
days.It was called the Haab. This
calendar consisted of 18 months.

8. MAYAN RELIGION
• The Maya believed in a large number of nature gods. Some gods were considered more
important and powerful than others.
• Itzamna - The most important Maya god was Itzamna..He was the god of fire who created
the Earth. The Mayan believed that itzama gave them the calendar and writing.
• Kukulcan - Kukulkan was a powerful snake god whose name means "feathered serpent".
He is often drawn to look like a dragon.
• Bolon Tzacab - Also known by the name Huracan . Bolon Tzacab was the god of storms,
wind, and fire.
• Chaac - Chaac was the god of rain and lightning. He had a lighting axe that he used to
strike the clouds and produce rain and storms.
• The kings of the Maya served as intermediaries between the people and the god.The
priests were responsible for performing rituals to keep the people in the favor of the gods.
They were very powerful . One of the rituals was animal and human sacrifices.

9. Can you identify the following gods?

10. MAYAN MASKS
• The masks were used in
religious and cultural
dances, as well as during
war.
• The antique masks were
used in wedding
ceremonies,and also to
commemorate births and
deaths.
• The Mayan's also used
masks for entertainment.

11. LET’S CREATE A MAYAN MASK
1. Have a look to the following
website:https://www.google.es/se
arch?q=image&client=firefox-
a&hs=M9o&rls=org.mozilla:ca:offici
al&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm
=isch&sa=X&ei=cPAGVLLXE8TE0QXt
l4GQCw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw
=1024&bih=657#channel=sb&q=m
ayan+masks&rls=org.mozilla:ca:offi
cial&tbm=isch&imgdii=_
2. Choose one of the mask that you
like best and draw it.
3. Colour the mask with felt tips.
4. Modelate and carve the mask with
clay.

12. MAYAN ARCHITECTURE
• The Maya civilization is
famous for its
architecture. Many
cities built large
palaces, pyramids, and
other public buildings
that are still standing
today. The buildings
were covered with
statues to honor their
gods and their kings.

13. MAYAN BUILDINGS
Pyramids
The Maya are known
for their pyramids:
They had steep steps
up the side that allow
people to climb to the
top.
They were built for
religious purposes and
for the gods.

14. PALACES
• Each Maya city had a
large palace for their
king and the royal
family.
• One of the most famous
palace is the palace at
Palenque built by King
Pakal.
• It was covered with
colourful hieroglyphics
and carvings of the king
and his family.

15. BALL
COURTS
• The Maya also built
giant ball courts
where they played
their game with a
rubber ball.
• The courts had two
long stone walls,
sometimes built
with sloped sides.

16. MAYAN WEAVERS
• In most Mayan villages,
women weave cloth for:
their families, ceremonies
and also for artistic
commercial purposes.
• Their designs are
colourful with different
patterns.

17. A MAYAN TAPESTRY
1. Have a look to the differents
patterns:
https://www.google.es/search?q
=image&client=firefox-
a&hs=M9o&rls=org.mozilla:ca:off
icial&channel=sb&source=lnms&t
bm=isch&sa=X&ei=cPAGVLLXE8T
E0QXtl4GQCw&ved=0CAgQ_AUo
AQ&biw=1024&bih=657#channel
=sb&q=mayan+fabrics&rls=org.m
ozilla:ca:official&tbm=isch&imgdii
=ufZrf0eogiwWDM%3A%3BqlySw
Fam3kixcM%3BufZrf0eogiwWDM
%3A
2. Draw your own design and
colour it .
3. Redecorate your design using
small pieces of wool .

18. MINI MAYAN CITY
• In groups of five
search information
about mayan cities.
• In group will make a
model of one
important building.

19. QUIZ
• 1.- Where did the ancient
Mayan live?
• 2.- In what continent is the
Yucatan mainland?
• 3.- Can you name the
different ancient mayan class
societies?
• 4.- What were good the
mayan people at?
• 5.- Where did the ancient
mayan civilitation develop?
• 6.- Can you name some of the
most important mayan’s gods?
• 7.- When did the mayan people
use their masks?
• 8.- Tha mayan cilivitation is
famous for:
• A) its pottery B) its architecture C)
its gods.
• 9.- What are the most important
buildings in a mayan city?
• 10.- Which was the most famous
game that mayan people played?