Starter quiz
- Match the word to its meaning.
- geographical⇔relating to the features of the earth's surface ✓
- historical⇔relating to history or past events ✓
- cultural⇔relating to the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a society ✓
- political⇔relating to the government of a country ✓
- What is hieroglyphics?
- a type of medicine used in Central America
- a ladder to reach very high places
- a writing system used in some ancient civilisations ✓
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- What is a temple?
- a person who works part time
- a building for religious worship ✓
- a very angry person
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- Copán is a city built by the ancient ______.
- Maya ✓
- Egyptians
- Aztecs
- Americans
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- What is meant by 'Non-European societies'?
- the cultures, civilisations and indigenous groups that existed outside Europe ✓
- societies that developed in Britain
- the cultures, civilisations and indigenous groups that migrated to Europe
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- What are primary sources in history?
- historical documentaries on television
- history books used in primary schools
- stories passed down along generations about historical events
- first hand accounts or artefacts created during the time period being studied ✓
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Exit quiz
- Who are the Maya?
- an ancient civilisation of Africa
- indigenous people of Mexico and Central America ✓
- indigenous people of Canada
- an ancient civilisation of Mesoamerica ✓
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- Just like other early civilisations, the Maya built cities near ______.
- rivers ✓
- volcanoes
- caves
- cliffs
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- Match the feature of a Maya city to its meaning.
- ceremonial centre⇔where people gathered for important events like religious events ✓
- stelae⇔standing stones decorated with hieroglyphs ✓
- causeways⇔raised paved roads that connected buildings within and between cities ✓
- The Maya game "pok-ta-pok" was played on a ______.
- 'ballcourt' ✓
- Which of the following geographical features are found in Mesoamerica?
- tundra
- mountains ✓
- rainforests ✓
- desert
- plains ✓
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- Which of the following countries are part of Mesoamerica?
- Honduras ✓
- China
- Mexico ✓
- Egypt
- Belize ✓
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Worksheet
Presentation
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- The Maya lived in a part of central America called Mesoamerica.
- Mesoamerica contained rich fertile lands in the highlands and plains, and humid rainforests in the lowlands.
- From about 750 BCE, the Maya built cities like Copán near rivers, just like other early civilisations.
- These were all different, but usually contained a ceremonial centre with temple-pyramids, ballcourts and palaces.
- They often contained causeways and standing stones carved with pictures and writings about their rulers.
Common misconception
Mesoamerican civilizations were primitive or less advanced compared to European counterparts.
Mesoamerican societies achieved remarkable advancements in architecture, mathematics, astronomy, agriculture, and writing systems. E.g., the Maya developed calendar systems and made contributions to mathematics, including the concept of zero.
Keywords
Maya - the Maya are an indigenous people of Mexico and Central America
Mesoamerica - Mesoamerica is an area of land that stretches from the southern part of North America and extends to the Pacific coast of Central America
Ceremonial - ceremonial means something that refers to a ceremony or is used in a ceremony
Ballcourt - a ballcourt is a large stone structure used in Mesoamerica to play the Mesoamerican ballgame pok-ta-pok