Geographical Setting: What continent? What Land forms? What important Places? The Mayan civilization was located in what is currently Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatan peninsula which is part of present day Mexico. They had highlands and lowlands. Their highlands were located in southern Guatemala. And their lowlands were located in Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatan Peninsula. Some of their cities were Copan, Tikal, Palenque, Bonampak, and Chichen Itza.
Political (Leadership, citizenship, decision-making institutions) The Mayan culture can be traced back to 2000 BC. They had city-states, which each had their own king who ruled over them. The kings of the city-states would occasionally wage war on nearby city-states. Kings did this to get more political or economic power. …show more content…
Their kings were part of the ruling class, and were also priests. Chan Bahlum was one Mayan king, he built three temple, the Temple of the Cross, the Temple of the Foliated Cross, and the Temple of the Sun. By building these temples he continued the traditions of his father, King Pacal. Bahlum started ruling in A.D. 684 and ruled for eighteen years.
Economics (Resources, production, needs, transportation, division of labor, technology, type of economy) The Maya had lowlands which were beneficial for farming. They also had some very successful trade cities, and farming operations. Mayans grew many crops including maize, beans, squash, pineapples, chili peppers, avocados, and cacao. But maize was the most important crop to them because they believed that the gods made them out of maize. Usually peasants would run farms, and have slaves as their workers.
Social Order (customs, education, family life, class and caste, leisure activities, decision-making, gender