Mesoamerica Vocab and Mayans Focus

Front

Mayan Civilization was known for:

Back

Great cities, trade, and achievements in art, science, and technology.

Front

Mayan Civilization duration: 2000 B.C. to 1500 A.D.

Back

3500 years.

Front

What helped villages grow, leading to Mayan cities?

Back

Trade

Front

Geographic feature that hindered farming despite valuable resources.

Back

Thick forests

Front

Pre-Classic Period: Population increased; buildings for religion/government; hieroglyphic writing developed.

Back

Population increased; buildings for religion/government; hieroglyphic writing developed.

Front

Classic Period of Mayan Civilization:

Back

Civilization reached the Yucatan Peninsula; Mayans used cacao beans for currency; elaborately decorated palaces and pyramids.

Front

What is a causeway?

Back

A causeway is a road built across water or low grounds.

Front

Mesoamerican term: ward?

Back

A ward is a neighborhood that is a political unit within a city.

Front

Pok-a-tok, a Mayan ritual game with a heavy rubber ball, resembled basketball and soccer. Unlike modern games,

Back

winners earned jewels and elaborate clothing; losers were sometimes killed.

Front

In the Mayan class structure, the upper class included accomplished traders who traveled for trade and decorated palaces.

Back

Merchants and artisans