MAYANS
-Mayans maximized the use of their lands because their settlement was permanent and their populations were large.
-They specialized in agriculture and often experimented with crops.
-Mayans adopted terracing which was the construction of steps on the slopes of steep hills. Plants were placed above the steps and this reduced surface run-off while simultaneously ensuring good irrigation of the crops.
Tuesday, 3 May 2016
All things Indigenous people- Political Structures
MAYANS
-Upper Class: The role of the Halach Unich was hereditary, thus it was passed from generation to generation or through royal lineage.
Since the Mayan population was vast, the lands were divided into city states and each state was ruled by its own Halach Unich. Within these villages were small villages called satellite towns which were ruled by sons of nobles.
-Middle Class: Consisted of scribes, engineers and astronomers. Scribes were intellectual and controlled the economic affairs of the leaders.
Engineers were responsible for construction of the pyramids..
Astronomers were responsible for advising farmers, priests and scribes on the best times to plant.
-Lower Class: Macehauls were enslaved Tainos. However, their offspring were semi-free and were mobile but were denied civil rights.
KALINAGOS
- Upper Class: Oubutu was the main ruler of the Kalinago tribees. This position was not hereditary but instead was earned. The Obutu was chosen by physical prowess in battle and the amount of Tainos they killed. Extra credit was given if the strongest Taino warrior was killed.
Because ther Oubutu was unavoidably absent most of the times, another leader called the Tiubutuli Hauthe saw the daily running of the community. When most of the warriors were out for battle, the Hauthe (a prowess himself) along with the remaining warriors stayed back to protect the women, children and peasants.
- Middle Class: Warriors comprised the middle class and they defended the villages. They lived together in a carbet and trained everyday.
- Lower Class: Comprised of women, children and peasants. Women were subservient, that is, they were the home makers and performed most of the agricultural duties.
-Upper Class: The role of the Halach Unich was hereditary, thus it was passed from generation to generation or through royal lineage.
Since the Mayan population was vast, the lands were divided into city states and each state was ruled by its own Halach Unich. Within these villages were small villages called satellite towns which were ruled by sons of nobles.
-Middle Class: Consisted of scribes, engineers and astronomers. Scribes were intellectual and controlled the economic affairs of the leaders.
Engineers were responsible for construction of the pyramids..
Astronomers were responsible for advising farmers, priests and scribes on the best times to plant.
-Lower Class: Macehauls were enslaved Tainos. However, their offspring were semi-free and were mobile but were denied civil rights.
KALINAGOS
- Upper Class: Oubutu was the main ruler of the Kalinago tribees. This position was not hereditary but instead was earned. The Obutu was chosen by physical prowess in battle and the amount of Tainos they killed. Extra credit was given if the strongest Taino warrior was killed.
Because ther Oubutu was unavoidably absent most of the times, another leader called the Tiubutuli Hauthe saw the daily running of the community. When most of the warriors were out for battle, the Hauthe (a prowess himself) along with the remaining warriors stayed back to protect the women, children and peasants.
- Middle Class: Warriors comprised the middle class and they defended the villages. They lived together in a carbet and trained everyday.
- Lower Class: Comprised of women, children and peasants. Women were subservient, that is, they were the home makers and performed most of the agricultural duties.
All things Indigenous People- Kalinagos
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
-They inhabited the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean (St. Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago). Grenada, Dominica, St. Vincent and Trinidad were the four main islands in which they inhabited.
COMPARISON:
MAYANS KALINAGOS
-They inhabited the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean (St. Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago). Grenada, Dominica, St. Vincent and Trinidad were the four main islands in which they inhabited.
COMPARISON:
MAYANS KALINAGOS
- Civilization Tribe
- City States Villages
- Permanent Settlement Semi-nomadic (settled approx. 5 years)
Kalinagos often had victory ceremonies. These included:
- Dancing
- Singing
- Drinking beers
- Smoking tobacco
They would capture the bravest Taino warrior, cut piece of his flesh and pass it around during victory ceremonies.
Mayans Social Organization Continued
ARTWORK
- They made elaborate, detailed pottery. These were obviously more precise and complex than that of the Kalinagos.
- Pottery included kitchen utensils such as bowls, pots and cups which they designed with stripes. All pottery were hand made.
-In Mayan pottery, each piece reveals stories of rulers and rituals which were major aspects of their civilization. Murals were found in San Bartolo, Mexico depicting Yum Kax and in a cave in Nai Tunich, Central America.
-Popular jewelry was jade. Mayans sculpted ornaments entirely out of jade.
- Bright colours were used to draw large murals on the walls of Mayan temples and pyramids. These murals usually depicted a scene or story that occured in Mayan time. Many of their paintings were also of kings, gods and animals.
- Featherwork: a quetzal bird (similar to a peacock) was defeathered and the feathers were used to make the headpieces used by the Halach Unich and other leaders.
INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC
- Instruments were made from clay, wood, rubber, bones and shell. Flutes were made of wood, clay and bamboo; Rattles were made of seeds and shells. They also made bells and drums and the main purpose of these instruments was for rituals and entertainment.
- They made elaborate, detailed pottery. These were obviously more precise and complex than that of the Kalinagos.
- Pottery included kitchen utensils such as bowls, pots and cups which they designed with stripes. All pottery were hand made.
-In Mayan pottery, each piece reveals stories of rulers and rituals which were major aspects of their civilization. Murals were found in San Bartolo, Mexico depicting Yum Kax and in a cave in Nai Tunich, Central America.
-Popular jewelry was jade. Mayans sculpted ornaments entirely out of jade.
- Bright colours were used to draw large murals on the walls of Mayan temples and pyramids. These murals usually depicted a scene or story that occured in Mayan time. Many of their paintings were also of kings, gods and animals.
- Featherwork: a quetzal bird (similar to a peacock) was defeathered and the feathers were used to make the headpieces used by the Halach Unich and other leaders.
INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC
- Instruments were made from clay, wood, rubber, bones and shell. Flutes were made of wood, clay and bamboo; Rattles were made of seeds and shells. They also made bells and drums and the main purpose of these instruments was for rituals and entertainment.
All Things Indigenous People
- Mayan Social Organization
-They played recreational activities: Pok-a-tok (ball game)
Mayans used their heads, shoulders etc. exclusive of their hands to hit a hard rubber ball through a vertical ring.
-Mayans were involved in numerous religious activities and ceremonies. These included:
- Human sacrifice- The human heart was offered up to the gods so to appease them/win their favour. They believed that this would make the gods provide them with food, water, sun, rain to name a few.
- Blood rituals: They would take their prisoners of war (such as the Aztecs), line them up atop the pyramid, take some of their blood and smear it on their idols which they also called zemis.
NOTE: Mayans thought that the Halach Unich (their leader) was a descendent of the Sun god Pipil.
Mayan Gods: Pipil-Sun god
Chac-Rain god
Yum Kax-Maize/Corn god
Au Puch-Death god
They pierced the Halach Unich in four consecutive places:
- Lips- for wise decisions/instructions
- Tongue- for knowledgeable speech
- Ears- to hear instructions and reactions from the gods
- Genitals- for continuous birth/fertility
-Ancestral worship: They often tried to communicate with their ancestors to get guidance and/or knowledge.
NOTE: The Mayans were fatalistic. In other words they believed that everything happened for a reason and so their lives were centered around their gods and controlled by the Halach Unich. This ultimately led to their demise.
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