Voices of Change: Ireland and the Wider World · 6th Year · Ancient Civilizations: The Maya · Summer Term

Maya Writing System: Hieroglyphs

Investigate the complex hieroglyphic writing system of the Maya and what it reveals about their society.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Primary - Early people and ancient societies
• NCCA: Primary - Social, cultural and aspects of everyday life

About This Topic

Maya City States and Architecture focuses on the incredible urban planning and engineering of cities like Tikal, Palenque, and Chichen Itza. Unlike a single empire, the Maya were organized into independent city-states, each with its own ruler and distinct architectural style. Students examine the function of the great limestone pyramids, which served as temples and tombs, and the sprawling plazas that were the heart of social and economic life. This fits the NCCA strand for Social, Cultural, and Everyday Life.

Students also investigate how the Maya adapted to their environment, using advanced water management systems like chultunes (cisterns) and raised-field agriculture to support large populations in the rainforest. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the layout of a Maya city and its relationship to the surrounding jungle.

Key Questions

1. Analyze how Maya hieroglyphs communicated both sounds and ideas.
2. Explain the process of deciphering ancient Maya texts.
3. Evaluate the importance of written records for understanding ancient civilizations.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze how Maya hieroglyphs represented both phonetic sounds and logographic concepts.
• Explain the methodology and challenges involved in deciphering Maya hieroglyphic texts.
• Evaluate the significance of Maya written records for reconstructing their history and societal structures.
• Classify different types of Maya glyphs based on their function (e.g., logograms, syllabograms).

Before You Start

Introduction to Ancient Civilizations

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of what constitutes an ancient civilization before focusing on specific aspects like writing systems.

Basic Concepts of Language and Communication

Why: Familiarity with how sounds and symbols relate to meaning is helpful for understanding the dual nature of Maya hieroglyphs.

Key Vocabulary

Hieroglyph	A system of writing that uses pictorial symbols, where each symbol can represent a word, a syllable, or a sound.
Logogram	A written character that represents a word or morpheme, such as the Maya glyph for 'jaguar'.
Syllabogram	A written symbol that represents a syllable, such as the Maya glyphs for 'ka' or 'ma'.
Codex	An ancient manuscript book, of which only a few Maya examples survive, containing historical records and astronomical information.
Epigraphy	The study of ancient inscriptions, particularly the decipherment and interpretation of written texts from archaeological sites.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The Maya lived in one big country with one king.

What to Teach Instead

They lived in many separate city-states that often traded or fought with each other. A 'city-state map' helps students see the Maya world as a collection of rival kingdoms like ancient Greece.

Common Misconception

The pyramids were built by slaves.

What to Teach Instead

While labor was required, much of it was likely done by citizens as a form of tax or religious duty. A 'who built it?' discussion helps students explore different social structures.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: City Planners

Groups are given a 'jungle map' with a river and hills. They must decide where to place the temple, the ball court, and the farms, explaining how they will manage water and food.

50 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: The Purpose of Pyramids

Students compare an Egyptian pyramid (a tomb) with a Maya pyramid (a temple and tomb). They pair up to discuss why the Maya built theirs with stairs and flat tops.

20 min·Pairs

Role Play: The Marketplace

Students act as traders in a Maya city, bartering goods like cacao beans, obsidian, and quetzal feathers. They must discuss where these items came from and why they were valuable.

30 min·Small Groups

Real-World Connections

• Linguists and archaeologists, like those at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, use epigraphy to translate inscriptions on stelae and pottery, revealing dynastic histories and religious beliefs of the Maya.
• The process of deciphering Maya hieroglyphs mirrors modern efforts to decode ancient scripts from other civilizations, such as Linear B in Greece or Egyptian hieroglyphs, expanding our understanding of human communication history.
• Museum curators utilize Maya hieroglyphic texts to authenticate artifacts and provide context for public exhibitions, connecting visitors to the intellectual achievements of this ancient civilization.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Provide students with images of 3-4 Maya glyphs. Ask them to identify whether each glyph is likely a logogram or a syllabogram and to explain their reasoning based on the visual representation.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are an archaeologist discovering a Maya stela with intact hieroglyphs. What specific types of information would you hope to find, and why is written evidence crucial for understanding their society?' Facilitate a class discussion on the value of written records.

Exit Ticket

Students write two sentences summarizing the difference between logograms and syllabograms in the Maya writing system. They then write one sentence explaining why deciphering Maya texts is important for historians.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the 'Great Ball Game'?

It was a ritual sport played in large stone courts. Players used their hips to keep a heavy rubber ball in the air. It had deep religious significance for the Maya.

How did the Maya build such large structures without metal tools?

They used stone tools made of obsidian and flint, and moved large blocks of limestone using manpower and rollers. Their engineering skill was based on precise geometry.

How can active learning help students understand Maya architecture?

Active learning through city-planning simulations or building models helps students understand the relationship between the environment and urban design. By 'placing' their city in a rainforest, they have to solve the same problems the Maya did, such as drainage and food supply, leading to a deeper respect for their ingenuity.

What happened to the Maya cities?

Many were abandoned during the 'collapse' period, but the buildings remained hidden by the jungle for centuries until they were rediscovered by explorers and archaeologists.

From the Blog

Collaborative Problem Solving in the Classroom: A Teacher's Guide

A research-backed guide to implementing collaborative problem solving in K-12 classrooms, with step-by-step strategies, grade adaptations, and pitfalls to avoid.