Mayan Life

Discover the fascinating world of Mayan life! Explore their math, astronomy, art, and culture.

Mathematics and Astronomy Arts and Crafts The Mayans and The Spanish Matching Zero The idea of using a symbol to represent the absence of all quantity Astronomy Studying the movements of the sun, moon, planets, and stars Eclipse When the sun or moon is blocked by another heavenly body and its light does not shine on Earth Observatory A place where the Mayas studied the heavens Sacred Calendar Had 260 days with 20 day names, each associated with a god or goddess; used to plan religious events. 365 day Calendar Based on the movement of the Earth around the sun; had 18 months of 20 days with 5 extra days at the end. Spinning Twisting fiber into yarn or thread. Weaving Forming cloth by interlacing strands of fiber, such as yarn, reeds, vines, or feathers Dyes Substances that gives color to cloth or other materials Stela A carved stone slab Fresco A painting done on a wall while the surface is still wet. Mayapan The new Mayan capital in the 13th century City-States Independent units of government formed around cities Smallpox A deadly disease brought by the Europeans to which the natives had no resistance Cavalry Soldiers mounted on horses Tayasal The last Mayan kingdom Mayans wrote their numbers from left to right right to left top to bottom bottom to top What type of artform used coils of clay that were smoothed together to form pots? Sculpture Painting Pottery Weaving What was different about the city of Mayapan? It was destroyed It was in the Yucatan Peninsula It was a walled city It was built by the Mayas What were the white men from Europe searching for in the Mayan lands? Food Gold and slaves Lumber Salt and cacao In what type of artform is a hard substance like wood or limestone carved to make a statue or decoration? Sculpture Painting Pottery Weaving What did the Mayas use to equal the number one? Shell Dot Square Bar The Mayas' regular calendar had 18 months with 20 days each and five extra days at the end of the year. What was special about those five days? They were feast days. They were lucky days. They were sacrifice days. They were unlucky days. What is a painting done on a wall called? Portrait Miniature Gallery Mural What was the name of the Spanish capital in this region? Tayasal Mayapan Tikal Mérida Often, Mayans joined the Spanish to fight against Other white men Other Mayans Jaguars The Toltecs What did the Mayas use to decorate clothing and make fans and headdresses? Rabbit Fur Feathers Reeds Cotton How did the Mayan priests use their knowledge of astronomy and mathematics? *3 ways List the colors used in Mayan weaving AND what those colors represented to the Mayans. What four things continued to weaken the Mayan civilization?