Source 1: The Mayan Ball Game: A Deadly Sport



Source 1: The Mayan Ball Game: A Deadly Sport

One of the ways that the Mayan peoples competed against each other was by playing their dangerous Ball Game. They used a rubber ball (9 lbs.), about 20 inches in diameter, to play the Game, which was played on a stone "court" of different sizes. (The largest one found so far measures 459 feet by 114 feet – way bigger than a football field.) The court had walls that sloped inward, and hanging high on the walls were stone rings.

The goal of the game was to pass the ball around, without having it touch your hands, and then get the ball to pass through one of the rings. Since the rings were so high and players were not allowed to use their hands, it was extremely difficult to get the ball through a ring. In fact, when a player did manage to get a ball through a ring the game ended. The game ended otherwise when the ball touched the ground.

The Mayan Ball Game was a serious experience, filled with ritual importance. Religious leaders attended, as did most government leaders. Sacred songs were sung and played. Other religious activities took place as well. The winners were treated as heroes and given a great party. The penalty for losing a game was sometimes unusually harsh, death! The leader of the team who lost was sometimes killed.

1. How is the Mayan game similar to American sports?

2. How is the Mayan game different from American sports?

3. What does the Mayan game tell us about the Mayan civilizations?

Source 2: Mayan Numbers

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The Maya developed an important system of mathematics that was more advanced than the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, or Romans. The Maya were perhaps the first people to use the idea of a zero – a very important invention.

This system of mathematics helped them learn astronomy – the study of the stars and planets. The Maya could accurately track the movement of the Earth, the moon, and the other planets in our solar system. They could also predict eclipses, which they believed were messages from the gods.

1. What did the Maya use to represent their numbers? Why do you think they chose them?

2. How would you represent the number “25” using this system?

3. How is this system different from our number system? Which system is easier to use?

4. What does the number system tell us about the Mayan civilization?

Source 3: Mayan Pyramid

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The ruins of Mayan cities remained hidden for centuries in the dense jungles of Mexico and parts of Central America. Scientists are still discovering new cities and pyramids that were seemingly lost in time. At first, scientists believed that these pyramids were religious centers only, but after further study, they’ve realized that they were complete cities. The pyramids were the ceremonial center of the city and were usually surrounded with public buildings, houses, and ball courts.

1. Describe the pyramid.

2. How do you think the pyramid was built?

3. What skills and knowledge did the Maya have in order to built the pyramid?

4. What does the pyramid tell you about the Maya civilization?

Source 4: Mayan Calendar

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The Maya had two different calendars. First is the Haab, which was a solar calendar with a 365 day year. It had 18 months of 20 days each. The five days that were left over, known as uayeb, were considered unlucky.

The second one was called the Tzolkin, which was the divine calendar consisting of the rituals (religious holidays) throughout the year. This calendar had 20 months with 13 days each, and each day was given a glyph, or symbol.

1. Why do the Maya have 2 calendars?

2. What type of knowledge do you need to know in order to create an accurate calendar?

3. How are the Mayan calendars different from the calendar we use?

4. What can the calendars tell us about the Mayan civilization?

Source 5: Mayan Art

The earliest Mayan artists were primarily focused on religious themes. At this time, the Mayans depicted such activities as human sacrifice, warfare, daily life, and religious rituals with startling realism.

All of the great Mayan cities created great sculptures. Sculptures enhanced Mayan temples, monuments, and buildings. Sculptors produced amazing images of mythological creatures, past rulers, gods, and supernatural animals. Lords and rulers were dressed in elaborate headdresses, costumes, and jewelry. Mayan sculptors preferred to work with limestone, but also used wood and clay.

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Painting was another major Mayan art form. Scientists have discovered brightly colored murals where the Maya once lived. The murals portrayed scenes of daily life as well as religious ceremonies.

1. What did Mayan artists make sculptures of?

2. Why were sculptures of gods and past rulers important to the Maya?

3. Where do you think this mural would have been located?

4. What is happening in this painting?

5. What can art tell us about the Mayan civilization?

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Mayan Stone Court is shown above. To the right is a artist sketch of Mayans playing the game

Note: The symbol for “O” is a shell.

Located at Chichen Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. There 91 steps on each side of the pyramid and one step to reach the temple at the top. It is approximately 90 feet high.

Mural shows Mayan musicians playing instruments.

Found in Chiapas, Mexico

This mural uses brown, white, green, blue, yellow colors.

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