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What were Maya roads like?

A cartoon of Jade Skirt pointing to a road.
  • When it rained it could be difficult to travel through the wet and muddy jungle floor.
  • Roads called sacbeob were built a few inches above the ground. This meant the Maya could travel whatever the weather and conditions.
  • The roads were made using stones which stopped them getting muddy.
  • The longest known sacbeob is called ۲ܲԲ-Dzá. It is 62 miles (100km) long.
A cartoon of Jade Skirt pointing to a road.
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How did the Maya carry goods?

Bottle in the shape of a person carrying a load using a tumpline.
Image caption,
This bottle is in the shape of a person carrying a load using a tumpline. You can see the strap round the person's forehead.

Maya people did not use vehicles with wheels to move things. Instead they carried loads on their backs.

  • A tumpline was a carrying device used to carry heavy loads on someone’s back.
  • It allowed people to carry up to 125 pounds (around 57kg).
  • The tumpline had a strap which went round the forehead.
Bottle in the shape of a person carrying a load using a tumpline.
Image caption,
This bottle is in the shape of a person carrying a load using a tumpline. You can see the strap round the person's forehead.
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How did the Maya grind corn?

  • A metate is a stone tool that would have been used for grinding maize to make tortillas.
  • This tool is still used by some Maya people today.
A cartoon of a Maya person grinding corn.
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What did Maya calendars look like?

Maya person holds up a calendar used for farming.
Image caption,
Maya farming was successful because of the accurate and detailed calendars people used.
  • The Tzolkin calendar was 260 days long and it was used to plan religious ceremonies.
  • Each day has its own unique name.
  • Some Maya people still use it today.
Maya person holds up a calendar used for farming.
Image caption,
Maya farming was successful because of the accurate and detailed calendars people used.
A cartoon sun.
  • The Haab calendar had 365 days. It could be used with the Tzolkin calendar to form a calendar wheel.
  • The Maya watched the sun, moon, stars and planets to create their calendars.
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Activities

Activity 1: Quiz – Maya inventions

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Activity 2: History Explorer game

Play this game to test your knowledge and learn even more facts about the ancient Maya.

History Explorer: Secrets through time

History Explorer: Secrets through time: KS2 History

History Explorer: Secrets through time
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Bitesize Primary games. game

Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.

Bitesize Primary games
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