mayan

Everyday

1. To do with the Maya, the people of Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras) whose ancient civilisation built stone cities and pyramids. tree →
2. A Maya person; also the Mayan languages, which millions of people still speak today. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons «the ancient Maya» or «Mayan civilisation» (about 2000 BC to AD 1500 and later) is a common topic: pyramids such as Chichén Itzá, a writing system of glyphs, a calendar, maths with zero, and chocolate drinks made from cacao. In maths the Mayan number system uses dots (1), bars (5) and a shell for zero, and counts in twenties. Phrases: «Mayan calendar», «Mayan pyramid», «Mayan numbers», «Mayan gods».

Examples

• The Mayan pyramid had steep steps up to a temple. tree →
• We wrote our ages in Mayan numbers using dots and bars. tree →
• Mayan people still live in Guatemala and speak Mayan languages. tree →
• The Mayan calendar was very accurate. tree →
• Ancient Mayan farmers grew maize, beans and squash. tree →
• A shell stood for zero in Mayan maths. tree →
• Some people claimed the Mayan calendar said the world would end, but it did not say that. tree →

Note

Capital letter: Mayan, Maya. Experts often say «Maya» for the people and the ancient civilisation and «Mayan» for the languages, but both are common. Myth: the Mayan calendar did not predict the end of the world; a long cycle simply started again. Do not confuse with «Aztec» or «Inca», other American civilisations. In Mayan numbers a bar = 5, a dot = 1, and place values go up in twenties.