The Maya Build a Great Civilization
IMPACT California Social Studies Grade 5 introduces students to the achievements of the ancient Maya civilization in Mesoamerica. The Maya built large cities dominated by tall stone pyramid temples that served as both religious and governmental centers. They developed a sophisticated writing system using hieroglyphs and created an exceptionally accurate calendar. Despite the abandonment of many major Maya cities after A.D. 900—a period historians call the Classic Maya Collapse—the Maya people continued to live throughout the region, and their descendants remain present in Mexico and Central America today.
Key Concepts
In Mesoamerica, the Maya civilization grew powerful. They built large cities with tall stone pyramids that served as temples. These cities became centers for government and religion.
The Maya developed a system of writing using pictures called hieroglyphs and created a very accurate calendar. After A.D. 900, many of their great cities were abandoned. The civilization declined, but the Maya people continued to live in the region.
Common Questions
What were Maya pyramids used for?
Maya pyramids were tall stone structures built in the centers of cities. They served as temples for religious ceremonies and also functioned as symbols of governmental authority, making them the physical and spiritual heart of Maya city-states.
What writing system did the Maya develop?
The Maya developed a complex system of writing using hieroglyphs—pictures and symbols that represented words, syllables, and sounds. This writing system is one of the few independently developed scripts in human history and was used to record history, astronomy, and ritual.
How accurate was the Maya calendar?
The Maya calendar was remarkably precise. They developed several interlocking calendar systems, including a 365-day solar calendar that was accurate enough to track agricultural seasons and predict astronomical events like eclipses.
Why did Maya cities get abandoned after A.D. 900?
Historians believe several factors caused the Classic Maya Collapse, including prolonged droughts, warfare between city-states, soil depletion from intensive farming, and political instability. Many major cities were abandoned, though the reasons may vary by location.
Did the Maya civilization completely disappear?
No. Although many of their great cities were abandoned, the Maya people themselves continued to live in the region. Millions of Maya descendants live in Mexico and Central America today, and Maya languages and cultural traditions survive.