The Maya Civilization

Slaves

Warriors

Nobles

Priests

Farmers

Tourists can view Mayan ruins.

Maya languages are still spoken.

Maya traditions and arts are preserved.

Descendants of the Maya live in Central America.

The Maya alphabet is used today.

It was led by nobles and priests

Common people held positions of power.

A city and its surrounding lands were self-governing.

A strong central government was led by an emperor.

holding school

holding a religious ceremony

watching for invaders

running a community meeting

metal tools

terrace farming

the telescope

mummification

hieroglyphic writing

number system

guns

astronomy

plows pulled by farm animals

A

B

C

D

a ruler

a temple

a message

a ceremony

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

a culture

education

government

a long period

rain

period of time

a long period of time with little or no rain