This document provides information about ancient Aztec and Mayan civilizations. It discusses the Aztec empire, which was centered in modern-day Mexico City. Key sites discussed include Teotihuacan, Tlateloco, and Tenochtitlan. The Mayan civilization is also summarized, noting important ruins at Palenque, Chichen Itza, and Tulum. Chichen Itza is described in more detail, highlighting structures like El Castillo pyramid, the Temple of Warriors, and the ball court. Cenotes, or underwater sinkholes, used for sacrifices are also mentioned.
3. Aztec Calendar
âș Two calendars in one
âș Tonalpohualli (day count) calendar = 260 days
âș Xiuhpohualli calendar = 365 days
- 18 months with 20 days
Click here to see what each day means in English. http://
www.ancientscripts.com/aztec.html
6. Tlateloco
âș Sister city to Tenochtilan
âș Huge markets were well known here
âș People sold food, clothing, furniture, animal
hides, etc.
âș Major drought between 1454-57 which led to a
mass sacrifice of about 37 adults and 6
children.
âș Last battle ground of the Aztec and Spanish
war.
âș 40,000 Aztec people died.
9. Mayan History
âș Loved science especially astronomy
âș Most ruins on Yucatan Peninsula and parts
of Guatemala and Belize
âș Palenque, Chichen Itza and Tulum most
common ruins
âș Famous for ball game called âUlamaâ
âș Used nearby cenotes for execution
10. Mayan Calendar
âș Ancient times they thought there were 360 days in a year.
âș Had 18 days per month and there were 20 months.
âș Five extra days were left and these came at the end of the calendar
cycle.
âș These extra days were considered to be unlucky.
âș What about 2012? â âthe end of the worldâ according to the mayan
âlong count calendarâ which marks the end of a 5100 year era.
11. Tulum Ruins
ïš Only Mayan ruin near water
ïš Located about 30 miles south of Playa del
Carmen (Yucatan Peninsula)
ïš small city inhabited by about 600 people
who lived in platform dwellings along a street
and who supervised the trade traffic.
ïš Considered to be a walled city, most of the
inhabitants probably lived outside the walls,
leaving the interior for the residences of
governors and priests and ceremonial
structures.
12. Tulum Ruins Cont.
âș The main god honored at Tulum is the
"diving god," or "Descending God," seen
on several buildings as an upside-down
figure above doorways.
âș The largest and most important building at
Tulum is El Castillo (The Castle). Located
closest to the sea, it probably served as a
landmark for sailors.
13. Tulum Continued
âș The Temple of the Frescoes, directly in front
of the Castillo, was used as an observatory for
tracking the movements of the sun. It contains
interesting 13th-century frescoes, though
visitors are no longer permitted to enter.
âș On the white-sand beach below El Castillo,
where the Maya once came to land, tourists
can swim and sunbathe. Many combine a visit
to the ruins with a swim in the Caribbean.
âș Some of the best coral reefs in the world here
14.
15. Palenque Ruins
âș Located in the jungle
âș Lived here since 300 BC
âș Known for pottery
âș Water center for the mayan people
âș 35% of this ancient city has been excavated
âș Temple of the inscriptions â described King
Pakalâs family tree
17. Chichen Itza
âș Largest Mayan city of the Yucatan
Peninsula
âș Settled by farmers in the 4th
century
âș Also a center of worship
âș Ruler was Kukulkan
âș âNew Zoneâ â Toltec Influence
âș âOld Zoneâ â Puuc influence
âș http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video
(Video)
18. El Castillo (Kukulcan Pyramid)
ïš El Castillo (Kukulkan pyramid)
ïĄ The architecture has a reference to the Mayan
calendar. The four stairways leading up to the central
platform each have 91 steps, making a total of 364;
added to the central platform this equals the 365 days
of the solar year.
ïĄ On either side of each stairway are nine terraces,
which makes 18 on each face of the pyramid, equaling
the number of months in the Maya solar calendar. On
the facing of these terraces are 52 panels, representing
the 52-year cycle when both the solar and religious
calendars would become realigned.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/chichen-itza
19.
20.
21.
22. Temple of the Warriors
ïš The Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of
the Warriors), named for the carvings of
warriors marching along its walls. It's also
called the Group of the Thousand
Columns for the rows of broken pillars that
are there.
ïš If the sun is in the right spot the shadows of
the pillars form a straight line.
ïš A figure of Chac-Mool sits at the top of the
temple, surrounded by impressive columns
carved in relief to look like enormous
feathered serpents.
25. Ball Court at Chichen Itza
ïš Home to at least nine ball courts, which hosted the
famous Mayan ball game. The largest one, the Juego
de Pelota (Main Ball Court) is northwest of El
Castillo.
ïš It is the largest and best-preserved ball court in the
Mayan world. Both walls are carved with scenes
showing Maya figures dressed as ball players and
decked out in heavy protective padding. There is also a
headless player kneeling with blood shooting from his
neck, while another player holding the head looks on.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/chichen-itza
26.
27.
28. Cenotes
âș Used for sacrificing and ceremonial purposes.
âș Major source of water for the residence of Chichen Itza
âș Men, women, and children were thrown alive into these
cenotes as a sacrifice to the gods in times of drought.
âș Many archeologist have found copper, gold, masks, cups
and even bones
âș Most artifacts date back to 13th and 16th century AD
29. El Caracol Observatory
ïš El Caracol (The "Snail" or Observatory) was
constructed over several centuries
ïš the additions and modifications reflect the Mayas' careful
observation of planet movements and increasingly exact
measurements.
ïš Through slits in the tower walls, Mayan astronomers
observed the cardinal directions, the approach of the
spring and autumn equinoxes, as well as the summer
solstice. Primarily used to track the planet Venus.
ïš The Spanish name, which means "snail," was inspired by
a spiral staircase inside.