USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Maya believed that their rulers could communicate with the gods and their dead ancestors through the ritual of bloodletting. It was a common practice for the Maya to pierce their tongue, lips, or ears with stingray spines and pull a thorny rope through their tongue, or cut themselves with an obsidian (stone) knife.

Detailed explanation-2: -The kings of the Maya served as intermediaries between the people and the gods. In some ways the kings were thought to be gods themselves. The priests were responsible for performing rituals to keep the people in the favor of the gods.

Detailed explanation-3: -They practiced a belief system called animism. Animism is the belief that objects, places and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence, or soul. For the Maya, all things-animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork and perhaps even words-were alive.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Maya believed that their flat world was watched over by four strong gods, one each at the corners representing the north, the south, the east and the west. Above the earth was heaven with its 13 layers. Each layer was represented by its own god. Below was Xibalba, or the underworld.

Detailed explanation-5: -The kings of the Maya often came to the priests for advice on what to do in a crisis and to get predictions of the future. As a result, the priests had great influence on how the king ruled. The Maya had strict laws. Crimes such as murder, arson, and acts against the gods were often punished with death.