Maya

The early maya lived from 1800 b.c. to a.d. 250. The classic maya lived from a.d. 250 -
900. The Maya civilization was one of the most dominant indigenous societies of mesoamerica
or Mexico and Central America. Maya were centered in one geographical block covering all the
Yucatan peninsula and modern day guatemala.
There leaders were Copan and Pakal the Great.There leaders were chosen from a class of
nobles. They were a loose collection of city-states. They believed in gods and some where some
more powerful than others. The most important god was Itzamna. Itzamna was the god of fire
who created the earth. Kukulcan was a powerful snake god whose name means feathered
serpent. Bolon Tzacab also known as Huracan. He was the god of storms, wind, and fire. Chaac
was the god of rain and lightning. They used a advanced writing system called hieroglyphics.
They also had 2 calendars one was a religious calendar and the other was a solar calendar. The
mayans built pyramid similar to the Aztecs but Mayan pyramids had a flat top and only one
temple. The hardest and most menial ancient Mayan jobs were reserved for the lowest class
the farmers and laborers. Mayan life was centered on the class system that created deep societal
divisions, and Mayans did jobs based on their station in life.The monarchy made up the ruling
class, and they often served in the capacity of priests, presiding over ceremonies and rituals.
They were followed in station by educated noblemen who worked as architects, artists, and
scribes. Evidence of the innovation and skillful craftsmanship of artisans in Mayan society is
found in works of flint, obsidian, pottery, bone, jade, stucco and stone that have been unearthed
during archaeological expeditions.The Maya had a bustling trade in prestige items as early as the
Middle Preclassic period (about 1000 B.C.). Different sites in the Maya region produced gold,
jade, copper, obsidian and other raw materials: items made from these materials are found at
nearly every major Maya site, indicating an extensive trade system. One example is the famous
carved jade head of Sun God Kinich Ahau, discovered at the Altun Ha archaeological site in
present-day Belize: the nearest source of jade was many miles away in present-day Guatemala
near the Maya city of Quirigu.Early Maya city-states tended to produce all of their own
subsistence items. Basic agriculture - mostly production of corn, beans, and squash - was the
daily task of the majority of the Maya population. Using basic slash-and-burn agriculture, Maya
families would plant a series of fields which would be allowed to lie fallow at times. Basic items,
such as pottery for cooking, were made in homes or in community workshops. Later on, as the
Maya cities began to grow, they outstripped their food production and food trade increased.
Other basic necessities, such as salt or stone tools, were produced in certain areas and then traded
to places that lacked them. Some coastal communities were involved in the short-range trade of
fish and other seafood.The Maya made paper from the inner bark of wild fig trees and wrote their
hieroglyphs on books made from this paper. Those books are called codices. The present-day
Mayan peoples can be divided on linguistic and geographic grounds into the following groups:
the yucatan maya inhabiting Mexicos Yucatn Peninsula and extending into northern Belize and
northeastern Guatemala.The Classic Maya built many of their temples and palaces in a stepped
pyramid shape, decorating them with elaborate reliefs and inscriptions. These structures have
earned the Maya their reputation as the great artists of Mesoamerica. Guided by their religious
ritual, the Maya also made significant advances in mathematics and astronomy, including the use
of the zero and the development of a complex calendar system based on 365 days. Though early
researchers concluded that the Maya were a peaceful society of priests and scribes, later
evidenceincluding a thorough examination of the artwork and inscriptions on their temple
wallsshowed the less peaceful side of Maya culture, including the war between rival Mayan
city-states and the importance of torture and human sacrifice to their religious ritual.

Word cited

http://www.history.com/topics/maya

https://www.reference.com/history/were-ancient-mayan-jobs-d7f70a822f22bd7c

http://www.ducksters.com/history/maya/