Mayan Culture

1. Mayan Culture A Mathematical Trip Back in Time 250 A.D. – 900 A.D.

2. Who are the Mayan’s? • The Mayan Culture is otherwise know as Mesoamerican civilization. • The are known for the only fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas. • The Maya remain to this day in contemporary Mesoamerican societies, and maintain a distinctive set of traditions and beliefs. • The have almost exclusively adopted the Roman Catholic religion.

3. Mesoamerica Civilization • This civilization is know for its amazing art, phenomenal architecture, fully developed written language, astronomical systems, and its sophisticated mathematical knowledge. • A typical Classic Period Mayan state was a small hierarchical kingdom headed by a hereditary ruler.

4. Where is the Mesoamerican Civilization? • The area of the Maya civilization extended throughout the northern Central American Region, including Guatemala, Belize, Western Honduras, El Salvador, as well as some southern Mexican states.

5. Mathematical Discoveries • They created a calendar to measure time. • They used numbers to calculate finances. • They were exceptional astronomers. • They chronicled the lives of rulers. • They used tables to chart the movement of planets

6. Mayan Calendar • The Mayans used more than 17 different calendars. • The Mayan people were very sophisticated in their mathematics and time concepts. No other culture had the same level of understanding. • One calendar was made up of 260 days, this was called the “sacred count calendar.” It was used throughout Mesoamerica for centuries. • Calendars were very important to the early Mayan’s. Both gods and men were identified by the day they were born.

7. 20 Day Monthly Mayan Calendar • There were 13 days in the week, and 20 days in the month each with a different name that had a different meanings. • Listed below are the names & their approximate meanings Imix – Waterlily Chuwen – Frog Ik’ – Wind Eb – Skull Ak’bal – Night Ben – Corn stalk K’an – Corn Ix – Jaguar Chikchan – Snake Men – Eagle Kimi – Death head Kib – shell Manik’ – Hand Kaban – Earth Lamat – Venus Etz’nab – Flint Muluk – Water Kawak – Storm Cloud Ok – Dog Ahaw - Lord

8. Month Names and Approximate Meanings Each month also had a different name with a special meaning associated to it. Listed below are those name and meanings if known. Pohp – Mat Yax – Green Wo – Unknown Zak – White Sip – Unknown Keh – Red Sotz’ – Bat Mak – Unknown Sek – Unknown K’ank’in – Unknown Xul – Dog Muwan – Owl Yaxk’in – New Sun Pax – Unknown Mol – Water K’ayab - Turtle

9. Mathematics and Astronomy • Mayans were able to compute the length of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun to within a thousandth of a decimal point of the current modern calculations using modern technology. • They kept calendars on the lunation and eclipse cycles, equinox and solstices. • They were able to do this using a numerical system that counted by twenties and used only three notational symbols.

10. Mayan Numerical System • The Mayan number system is based on the number 20, not the number 10 as in our own system. This means that they count by 20 instead of 10. • They count from 0 to 19 before moving to the next order. Whereas, in our number system we count from 0 to 9 then move to the 10’s position. • This base 20 system is called vegismal. • Using this number system and having a value for zero, they were able to have clear place values. Such as a dot for 20 could also mean one without a placeholder to indicate that the dot goes in 20 position. • The symbols they use for counting are bars, dots and a shell. • The dot has a value of one. • The bar has a value of five. • The shell has a value of zero.

11. Zero • The Mayan symbol for zero is considered one of the greatest achievements of their civilization. • They depicted zero in the form of a shell because it has great spiritual implications. • Having a symbol which is equivalent to the Arabic zero allowed the Mayans to express any whole number using place value notation.

12. Number System Numbers written from 1 to 20

13. Numbers 20 and Larger • Unlike our number system the Mayan numbers are arranged vertically instead of horizontally. • The bottom row (1st row) is single units (1-19) • The next row (2nd row) is multiplied by 20. • The 3rd row is 18*20 • The 4th row is 18*202

14. Larger Numbers 20*1=20 20*1=20 20*2=40 20*3=60 6*20=120 0= 0 1= 1 1= 1 1= 1 2= 2 = 20 = 21 =41 =61 =122

15. Why were their Mathematical Discoveries Important? • Their ability to write numbers enabled them to add and subtract with ease. • They were able to maintain financial records. • They maintained several calendars. • They were exceptional astronomers. • Without a number system these things could not have occurred.

16. Bibliography Berlinghoff, W. P. & Gouvea, F. Q. (2004). Math through the ages. Publication Place: Oxton House Publishers and the Mathematical Association of America. The classic Maya (n.d.).Retrieved February 23, 2007, from http://www.13moon.com/ABOUT%20THE%20MAYA.htm Fought, S. (1997). The Mayan symbol for zero. Retrieved February 23, 2007 from Drexel University, The Math Forum Web site: http://mathforum.org/k12/mayan.math/ Maya civilization. (2007) Retrieved February 26, 2007, from Wikpedia Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_civilization