Summary
Long before the Aztecs made their mark in Mesoamerica, there was the Maya civilization. Join Tim and Moby as they explore this highly advanced pre-Columbian culture. You’ll learn why the Maya civilization wasn’t exactly an empire, but still constituted a unified culture. You’ll also find out about the Maya script, the only complete written language developed by indigenous Americans! Plus, Tim will describe the role of religion in Maya society, explaining how it drove advances in architecture, math, art, and astronomy. Finally, you’ll get a picture of how the Mayas were slowly subdued by the Spanish empire. Will Tim’s report on the Mayas succeed in appeasing the god of maize? Watch and see!
Viewer safety
Our rating is a quick teacher-to-teacher guide — preview before showing.
Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Maya Civilization:
- What is one new thing you learned about maya civilization?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining maya civilization.
- Draw or give one example of your own.