Maya

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/maya

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is Maya known for?Advanced mathematics (including zero), precise astronomical observations, and sophisticated calendrical calculations
2. What is the cultural sphere?Mesoamerica, encompassing parts of modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador
3. What is the writing system?Logosyllabic hieroglyphic script, the most developed in pre-Columbian Americas
4. How did the Maya count numbers and why was zero important?They used a base‑20 number system that included zero as a placeholder. Zero helped them do complex calculations and keep records.
5. What were the Maya calendars and how did they use them?The Maya had three calendars: the 260‑day Tzolk'in, the 365‑day Haab', and the Long Count. These calendars guided rituals, farming, and state ceremonies.

Stelae: Upright stone slabs, often carved with inscriptions and images, used by the Maya to commemorate rulers and events.
Vigesimal System: A number system based on the number 20, utilized by the Maya civilization.
Classic Maya Collapse: The gradual decline and abandonment of major Maya cities in the southern lowlands around the 9th century CE.