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Ancient Maya 101 | National Geographic

National Geographic

1.6M views 8 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What do you already know about the Ancient Maya?
When you hear “Ancient Maya,” what places in the Americas do you think of?
What kinds of topics do you expect in a “101” video (for example: timeline, culture, technology)?

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Ancient Maya 101 | National Geographic

Who the Maya were and where they lived (00:00 – 01:00)

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1. What event is used as a historical marker for the time before the Maya in the Americas?

World War I
The Spanish conquest
The Roman Empire
The Industrial Revolution

2. Where did the Maya establish villages early on?

In what is today Mexico and Central America
Only in South America
Across Europe and Asia
Only in the Caribbean

3. What kinds of structures were central to Maya religious practices?

Underground tunnels
Wooden houses
Pyramid temples
Modern skyscrapers

Ancient Maya 101 | National Geographic

Farming, science, and writing (01:00 – 02:20)

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1. According to the Mayan creation story in the video, what were humans created out of?

Water and air
Gold and silver
Stone and clay
Yellow and white corn

2. Which mathematical idea did the Maya invent, according to the video?

Calculus
The concept of zero
Negative numbers
The Pythagorean theorem

3. What was the Maya calendar system used to guide?

Military training
Ocean travel
Election dates
Agricultural cycles

Ancient Maya 101 | National Geographic

Conflict, collapse, and Maya people today (02:20 – 03:53)

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1. What does the video say about conflict among some Maya city-states?

Conflict was rare and mostly avoided
Conflict only happened after 1500 AD
Conflict was prevalent as they battled for control
Conflict was only with Europeans

2. Which explanation is presented as perhaps the most likely theory for why many Maya cities collapsed?

Drought
A major earthquake
A comet impact
A new trade route

3. What does the video say about the Maya people today?

They live only in Europe
More than 7 million are estimated to be alive today
They have disappeared completely
Only a few hundred remain

Ancient Maya 101 | National Geographic

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1. What is the main purpose of the video?

To give a short overview of Maya history, achievements, and decline
To teach modern Spanish grammar
To explain how to build pyramid temples today
To compare only two Maya kings

2. Which combination best describes key Maya achievements mentioned in the video?

Computers and satellites
Oil drilling and factories
Mathematics, astronomy, a calendar system, and hieroglyphs
Steam engines and microscopes

3. What idea does the video emphasize at the end?

The collapse happened for one single proven reason
The Maya people still exist and continue some traditional practices
The Maya culture ended entirely in 900 AD
All Maya cities are still inhabited today

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Ancient Maya 101 | National Geographic

Which Maya achievement mentioned in the video (math, astronomy, writing, or city building) do you think was most important? Why?
The video lists several theories for the Maya cities’ collapse. Which seems most convincing to you, and what evidence would you want to see?
How can a society be highly advanced and still experience frequent conflict? Can you think of modern examples?
What traditions do people in your culture continue from their ancestors, even while participating in modern global life?