How were the religion and the government of the maya connected?

The religion and the government of the Maya were intrinsically connected. Connectivity is an important mark of Mayan culture.

The government representants were not centralized and the king was seem as an intermediary of the people and the Gods, who the Mayans believe would have received the right to govern from the Gods.

Many times the government representant was also the priest, who would give advice on religion as well.

The religion and the government of the Maya were connected because religion was interlaced into all sides of everyday life and was the main uniting aspect of civilization. They performed human sacrifice and would usually attack other communities to get victims.

EXPLANATION:

The Mayans established a hierarchical government governed by kings and priests. They stayed in independent city-states comprising rural societies and the center of great urban ceremonies. There were no standing troops, but the war had an important role in power, religion, and prestige.

There are some facts about the Maya government and the kings:

•The king’s position was often hereditary by the eldest son. If there were no sons, the eldest brother becomes king. However, there were also many occasions of female rulers.

•Ordinary people had to pay taxes to support the noble people and the king. Men also had to oblige as combatants when the king ordered.

•The Maya noble people were also subject to the law. If a nobleman was guilty of a crime, they were usually penalized even more harshly than ordinary people.

•Sometimes, when the king showed in public, his servants would cover his face with the cloth so that the ordinary people could not see him. Ordinary people should not talk to him directly.

•Ordinary people were prohibited from wearing clothes or symbols of noble people.

•The Mayan city-state government was similar in many customs to the Ancient Greek government.

LEARN MORE:  

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:

•Which answer choice correctly states the historical relationship between the Zapotec and Maya civilizations?

•What is an accomplishment of the Maya civilization?

KEYWORDS: Maya, Maya civilization, Maya religion, Maya government

Subject  : Social Studies

Class  : 7-9

Sub-Chapter: Maya Civilization

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