the Maya are an indigenous people of Mexico and Central America

Mesoamerica is an area of land that stretches from the southern part of North America and extends to the Pacific coast of Central America

ceremonial means something that refers to a ceremony or is used in a ceremony

a ballcourt is a large stone structure used in Mesoamerica to play the Mesoamerican ballgame pok-ta-pok

Maya cities and the geography of Mesoamerica

History

In ‘Non-European societies: Benin or the Maya’ pupils are encouraged to compare and contrast their understanding of Anglo-Saxon England with a non-European society that was roughly contemporaneous. In ‘Significant turning points: how did experiences differ during WW2?' Pupils extend their chronological understanding by studying the significant turning point of WW2.

In ‘The Vikings: how did Viking settlement help to make England?’ pupils studied the political narrative of how Viking settlement helped to forge England. In ‘Non-European societies: Benin or the Maya’ pupils are encouraged to compare and contrast their understanding of Anglo-Saxon England with a non-European society that was roughly contemporaneous.

If pupils study Benin, they learn about Benin's culture and society and how its looted artworks have caused modern controversy. If they study the Maya, they build knowledge of this civilisation to analyse what made them so distinctive.

Non-European societies: Benin or the Maya

indigenous people of Mexico and Central America

 Just like other early civilisations, the Maya built cities near {{  }}.

where people gathered for important events like religious events

standing stones decorated with hieroglyphs

raised paved roads that connected buildings within and between cities

Match the feature of a Maya city to its meaning.

The Maya game "pok-ta-pok" was played on a {{  }}.

Which of the following geographical features are found in Mesoamerica?

Which of the following countries are part of Mesoamerica?

relating to the features of the earth's surface

relating to the ideas, customs and social behaviour of a society

a type of medicine used in Central America

a writing system used in some ancient civilisations

Copán is a city built by the ancient {{  }}.

the cultures, civilisations and indigenous groups that existed outside Europe

the cultures, civilisations and indigenous groups that migrated to Europe

What is meant by 'Non-European societies'?

stories passed down along generations about historical events

first hand accounts or artefacts created during the time period being studied

Starter Quiz