Maya Art and Architecture

Maya Art and Architecture

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE: The Maya civilization was one massive empire with one king.

• True

• False

Not one empire but various city-states and each city-state had one ruler

all shared a common language and culture

Multiple Choice

The geography of the Maya civilization includes all of the following EXCEPT:

• rainforest

• mountains

• rivers

• desert

Big Idea

The Maya used their natural resources in everyday life and to build their cities.

Some of the best known Maya art is their sculptures and their jade and gold jewelry. The Maya built cities without using metal tools.

Geography provided natural resources to the Maya

Limestone

Obsidian

salt

Jade

Multiple Select

What were common natural resources available to the Maya? Check all that apply

• Jade

• Obsidian

• Limestone

• salt

Maya civilization grew to include 40 cities with populations of 5,000 -50,000 each

• Tikal

• Palenque

• Chichen Itza

• Calakmul

Multiple Select

The Period from 200AD-900AD is known as the Classic Age of Maya Civilization, why is it called the Classic Age? Check ALL that apply

• the civilization spread to the Yucatan Peninsula

• the civilization included more than 40 cities

• Their trading network allowed everyone to get what they did not have nearby

• The Maya began to build larger cities made of stone

Architecture

Excavations of Maya sites have unearthed plazas, palaces, temples and pyramids, as well as courts for playing the ball games that were ritually and politically significant to Maya culture. 

How did they do this without using metal tools?

• Used limestone

• Cut the limestone into smaller blocks using obsidian

• to move the blocks, they would roll them onto logs and lift them with ropes

• It took many workers to do this

Multiple Choice

What two stones were used to build the structures?

• limestone and obsidian

• obsidian and jade

• jade and limestone

• salt and metal

Plaza

• Every Maya city had a central marketplace, pyramids, temples, and a ball court, palace where the King lived, and a large plaza

• Plazas in the center where people could gather

Pyramids

• A square base with 4 sides

• Steep, some taller, some skinnier, some were flat on top

• Were aligned astronomically to the orbits of the sun and moon, and they were built to honor their gods and their leaders

• Maya priests climbed the pyramids to conduct ritual ceremonies on the steps where everyone could see them

Multiple Choice

where did priests perform religious ceremonies?

• At the ball court

• In the fields

• On top of the pyramid

• At the king's palace

Palaces

Palenque>>>>

-Homes for the king and their family

-One palace per city

-Large buildings with multiple stories

-More space for government officials to do their job

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE: Palaces were very small buildings and only the King was allowed inside.

• True

• False

Ball Courts

• Courts had a large playing area with a stone hoop mounted in the wall at one end. 

• the ball game could be played for athletic fun, but because ball courts were usually positioned at the foot of a temple it is believed that ball games also had religious meanings

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE: the ball games were played only for fun

• True

• False

Art : sculptures

• Stela- tall stone monuments that are carved with drawings and glyphs - inscribed symbols

• Found throughout Maya cities

• Built to honor an important event or to glorify a king or as an altar of some kind

Multiple Choice

Stelae are thought to be used for all of the following EXCEPT?

• To honor a king

• To honor an important event

• As an altar

• To scare away animals from attacking

Pottery

• Made of clay from the riverbanks and left in the sun to dry and harden

• Common pottery included great water jugs, plates, pots, and planters

• Each piece of Maya ceramics is unique, and every one tells a story.

Maya were also inspired by their natural surroundings

• Made animal and human figures out of clay

• Were probably used in religious ceremonies. Many were made to rattle or whistle

• Very small and detailed and brightly painted

Murals - wall paintings

• Religious murals to showcase how powerful gods are

• Political murals showcase the king and military power

• daily life murals

• The Maya combined art with hieroglyphs, each tells a story

Fill in the Blank

Because the maya combined art with ____________, or inscribed symbols, scientists today can tell each art piece told a story. Giving us a better idea of what Maya daily life looked like.

Jewelry

• The Maya enjoyed wearing lots of jewelry like earrings, nose rings, lip rings, and necklaces

• Carved Jade was the most popular - green color represents life and growth

• headresses were common too, the higher the hat, the higher standing in society

• Bright feathers were used to decorate

Multiple Choice

Why did the Maya wear jewelry and decorate their headdresses?

• To show off their social status

• To protect themselves from the sun

• To scare off birds

• To attract birds