Location

• Yucatan Peninsula• Mexican and Central American

rainforest

Modern-day countries include

• Mexico• Guatemala• Honduras and Belize

Important Cities

• Chichén Itzá, the premier city-state

Economy

• Based on agriculture (irrigation) and trade

Government

• Collection of city-states ruled by one king

• Upper class– Priests– Nobles– Warriors

Government (continued)

• Everyone else were peasants– paid taxes to king (corn)

• No rights for women

Religion

• Polytheism• Pyramids• Priest preoccupied with time• Human sacrifices

Achievements

• Hieroglyphics• Complex calendar system• Astronomy• Number system