4th grade

Unit 2:
Maya and Aztec
civilizations
Miss Constanza Filla
 Unit objectives

• Understand the main characteristics of the Maya and Aztec civilizations.

• Value the cultural legacy of the Maya and Aztec civilizations.

• Work with timelines, identify similarities and differences, and give

opinions.

• Value life in society and citizen participation. Participate actively and be

constant and rigorous.
 Page 42

Codex (Códice in
Spanish) are books
full of pictures and
symbols, made by
pre- Columbian
civilizations.
Page 43
 THE MAYA
CIVILIZATION
Main aim: Identify and locate the Maya civilization in time and
space.
GEOGRAPHIC AND
TEMPORARY LOCATION OF
THE MAYA
 The Maya in time
The history of the Mayan civilization is usually
Page 44
divided into two major periods: Classic (from AD
300 to 900) and Postclassic (from AD 900 to 1521).

It is in the Classic era when the Maya reached their

greatest development.
 The Maya and their geographical
environment Page 44

The Maya occupied the

area of Mesoamerica
(central america),
especifically southern
Mexico, Guatemala,
Belize and part of
Honduras.
Page 45
Main aim: Recognize and characterize the aspects of the Maya political organization.

THE POLITICAL
ORGANIZATION OF THE MAYA

Chichén Itzá, an example of the distribution of a city-state

 The city-l

states
They are independent cities ruled by an Ahau (king), who was also
called Halach Uinic.

Divided into two areas:

Now, complete the
“work with
URBAN OR CITY RURAL OR COUNTRYSIDE picture” activity,
page 46.

Also known as ceremonial center. It surrounded the ceremonial center.

Inhabited by the king, priests, artisans Inhabited by peasant families.
and merchants. In this area agricultural activities were
Commerce and religious ceremonies carried out (collected plant and hunted
were held in this place. animals)
The duties of the Ahau or Halach Uinic
He had a lot of power: he dictated laws,
administered justice, organized commerce
and directed priests.

He was considered a divine being.

He was king for life and could give his title to a

child.

He was supported by a council, composed by

the chief of the warriors and the most
important priests.
Now, complete activity 1 in page 47
Main aim: to identify and characterize the social organization and economic
activities of the Maya.

The Maya society and economy Page 48

 The Maya society was
hierarchical, that is, it was
divided into different social
groups, each with specific
functions.
Its organization was pyramidal.
The Ahau was placed in the
highest position and of greater
power, while the groups without
privileges were located in the
lowest part.

If you belonged to the Maya society, which social group Therefore, there were great
would you have liked to belong to? Why? differences between the groups.
 Maya economic
activities
The Maya lived in an area
with lots of vegetation, so
they had to adapt to the
environment and
transform it in order to
develop, for example,
agricultural activities, from
which they obtained
necessary products to live.
To cultivate their
cornfields, they
developed the slash-and
burn agricultural system.