The ancient Maya people had a class structured society. At the top were the nobles and priests. They had a middle class of craftsmen, traders, and warriors. At the bottom, as usually in ancient time, were the farmers and slaves.
The ancient Maya did not use their own people as slaves. Slaves were captured from other tribes.
Archaeologists have pieced together a great deal about the ancient Maya daily life from the artifacts they have found in the ruins of Maya Cities. These artifacts include pottery, clay figures, huge statues, and the remains of pyramids and temples.