Friday, July 9, 2010



What did the Mayans sacrifice people?


The Mayans believed that they needed to sacrifice human blood to ensure the survival of both gods and people. This would send human energy up to the gods, and in return they would be rewarded with divine power. They usually sacrificed prisoners, saves and children.



What was the Mayans most important city?



The ancient city of Tikal (in modern day Guatemala) was one of the most important cities to the Mayans. People first lived there in 500 BC, and built temples, places, houses, plazas and ball courts to play games. The city was built on a hill in the jungle, so that it was above the seasonal swamps. Up to 10 000 people may have lived in the city. Tikal suddenly collapsed in 900 AD. Nobody knows what happened to the city or its people. And it was quickly taken over by the jungle.



What number was invented by the Mayan's?


The Mayan's were the first people in the world to understand the value of zero when the rest of the time. They used a system of counting that had only three symbols, so it was 5, and a shell 0. it was so simple that even uneducated people Could add and subtract for trade.


Where did the Olmec's
and the Maya’s come from


The Olmec's and Maya's where most likely descendants from the hunter gatherers that first came to the Americas and settled in Mexico around the 11,000 BC. They settled in south America in what are now the five countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. There are still descendant's of the Mayas who live in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. The Olmec's are the oldest of the civilizations.