What were The Maya? - An Introduction for Keystage 2
Updated: Dec 28, 2024
Who:
The Maya (also sometimes referred to as "Mayans") was an ancient civilisation based in "Mesoamerica". They were well known for their large cities, step pyramids, early advancements in mathematics, astronomy, and the accuracy of their calendar.
When:
The earliest Maya settlements date back to 1800BC - that's nearly 4000 years ago! But Maya culture was at its height during their golden years in the "Classical Period" between 200AD and 900AD.
Where:
The Maya civilisation was based in a place called "Mesoamerica". This was a large area made up of Mexico and parts of Central America.
The Maya set up many cities in this area, some of which, like Chichen Itza, still survive in ruins today. Historians estimate that the largest of these cities, Tikal, had anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 residents.
These cities were all designed in a similar pattern and were often built as maps of the sky. Most Maya cities had a palace for the king or queen, various large step pyramids and temples, and a marketplace.
Although similar, Maya cities weren't part of a unified empire - each was ruled by its own king or queen and often went to war against each other. Despite this, all of the Maya cities had similar beliefs and traditions.
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