https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqhUO2D9Pqc
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Discuss the following questions
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Have you been to the Maya Riviera? Would you like to?
What would you consider a civilization?
What do you know about the Maya?
What makes a civilization great?
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Useful Language for your replies
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“If I had the money, I would like to…” “I believe a civilization must consist of the following characteristics…” ”I’m not an expert, but I think they were…”
Chichen Itza, the pyramid of Kukulcan, in the Yucatán
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Read the following article
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The story of the Maya began around 2600 B.C.E. (Before Common Era) in the Yucatán Peninsula, a place of lush vegetation and abundant wildlife. This was a society that, over the centuries, would grow into one of the most impressive civilizations in the pre-Columbian Americas.
The Maya were extraordinary in many facets of life, but were especially known for their advanced understanding of mathematics and astronomy. They developed a complex calendar system that tracked celestial patterns with remarkable precision, and their hieroglyphic writing system was one of the most sophisticated in the ancient /ein-shent/ world.
Architecturally, the Maya were master builders. They constructed breathtaking temples and pyramids, many of which still stand in Central America today. These structures /strak-churs/ served as places of worship /wor-ship/ (culto), community gatherings, and as astronomical observatories /obsérvatris/.
The Maya was sprawling and diverse, extending across what is now Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador. Despite their geographical reach, the Maya maintained a sense of unity through their shared spiritual beliefs. They were deeply religious and expressed their spirituality through intricate ceremonial carvings and rituals.
But nothing lasts forever. Around 900 C.E., the Maya began to decline. The reasons for this decline are still debated among historians. Some theories suggest that overpopulation and over-farming led to the depletion /deplishon/ of natural resources. Others point to warfare, disease, and climate change as possible causes.