The Mayas were master builders. They did not use metal. Their tools were made of stone, wood,
and shell. Without
metal tools, they built huge cities with strong buildings and
pyramids that were 200 feet high.
Here are some of the things they built:
Cities:
The Mayas built many cities. Each city was built in a similar
way. Each Maya city had a central marketplace. Every city had a large
plaza where people could gather. Every city had huge
pyramids, temples, at least one
ball court, and a
palace for the city ruler.
Each
city was a center of learning and religion for the people who lived
nearby.
Cities were connected with extremely well built roads that run
for miles through the jungle and swamps.
Two of their largest cities
were Tikal (tee KAHL) located in the present day country of Guatemala,
and Copan (ko PAHN) located in the present day country of Honduras.
Stela:
A stela is a very large stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics.
Stelas were always built to celebrate the K'atun,
the special festival held every 20 years. But a stela might be built
to honor any important occasion. The hieroglyphics
inscribed on the stela told about the event.
Stelas were placed where
people could see them. Often, stelas were designed with drawings so
that people could better understand them.
Virtual
Maya Stela of Today's Date (Have ancient artists chip one for you)
Stelas
- Religion
They
lived where? (Cities of the Maya)
Maya
Pyramids Maya
Temples Maya
Palaces, one for each city ruler
Maya
Ball Courts
Maya
Festivals
& Celebrations
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