Maya Civilization

Ancient Maya monuments had INSCRIPTIONS that honored leaders and shared stories about them. What is an INSCRIPTION?

• a ruler

• a temple

• a message

• a ceremony

Why would the Maya people leave the cities during a drought?

• because they could not grow food or get enough water

• because they could not honor their gods and ancestors

• because they could no longer track the heavenly bodies

• because they could no longer write down their stories

How do experts know that the Maya left some cities during the 700s and 800s?

• There are letters left behind by some of the people.

• There are no writings or buildings from that time.

• There are writings on the temples about leaving the cities.

• There are maps that showed where the people moved.

Many Maya sculptures show different rulers dressed up like gods. What does this tell us about the Maya?

• The common people led the Maya cities.

• The Maya people disappeared completely.

• Religion played a small role in Maya culture.

• The Maya honored their rulers and their gods.

Which sentence is FALSE about where the ancient Maya people lived?

• Royalty lived in palaces inside the cities.

• Nobility lived in the center of the cities.

• Common people lived outside of the cities.

• Farmers lived in observatories near the cities.

What is an archaeologist?

• a person who studies human history.

• people left behind

• a person who studies human history by observing things people left behind

• history of observing things.

What does the word nobility mean?

• the class of people

• wealth, or power

• people in a society

• the class of people who have more privilege, wealth, or power in a society

What does the word stelae mean?

• tall monuments made out of stone that honor someone or something.

• tall monuments

• honor someone.

• a stone

What does the word drought mean?

• a long period

• rain

• period of time

• a long period of time with little or no rain

What does the word civilization mean?

• a culture that has systems of government, education, and beliefs

• a culture

• education

• government