A typical Mayan family would have around five to seven members. It has been found that both nuclear and extended families existed during in Mayan civilisation. Marriage between couples would usually happen when someone was in their late teens or early twenties. In Mayan civilization, all marriages were arranged. Usually, the couple initiated contact and then the two families negotiate about the marriage. Gifts were usually exchanged and sometimes the bride's parents would receive money. They money for having to raise her as a child. Often couples had both civil and religious marriage ceremonies and after they were married, they would live with the groom's parents until their first child was born. So, family structure would sometimes be nuclear and sometimes extended when newly married couples would live with them until they went out to establish their own homes and also elderly parents would live with the family when it became too hard for them to manage on their own.
Most of the mayan People were farmers. their main food was corn also known as maize. Food they grew included beans, squash, avacado pear, avacado, potato, guava, chilli peppers, cocoa beans, vanilla beans, papaya and tomatoes and fruit grown from trees. their farming technique was called milpa also known as slash and burn.
the mayan family all lived together, the men farmed and hunted while the women stayed home and cooked and weaved
The Mayans had a class system of people, which meant that the people at the top governed over the people at the bottom. At the top were the nobles with the King being the most powerful. The King's power was inherited meaning that the oldest son would become the King when the king died. The King appointed the other people. The next most powerful were the priests who helped the king and also lead religious ceremonies. The next level of
people was the commoners. Most people were in this commoner category and were farmers. The bottom of the system was the slaves. Slaves were caught during wars or if people broke a law like stealing they would become a slave.
Most of the mayan People were farmers. their main food was corn also known as maize. Food they grew included beans, squash, avacado pear, avacado, potato, guava, chilli peppers, cocoa beans, vanilla beans, papaya and tomatoes and fruit grown from trees. their farming technique was called milpa also known as slash and burn.
the mayan family all lived together, the men farmed and hunted while the women stayed home and cooked and weaved
The Mayans had a class system of people, which meant that the people at the top governed over the people at the bottom. At the top were the nobles with the King being the most powerful. The King's power was inherited meaning that the oldest son would become the King when the king died. The King appointed the other people. The next most powerful were the priests who helped the king and also lead religious ceremonies. The next level of
people was the commoners. Most people were in this commoner category and were farmers. The bottom of the system was the slaves. Slaves were caught during wars or if people broke a law like stealing they would become a slave.
Roles in the family
Men
Men were usually the rulers of Mayan times and were the Kings. They would make up most of the Royal circle and would influence the decisions made at court. Men were not expected to perform any domestic duties as these were left to the women. There was not a distinct difference between religion and government so the noble people of Mayan times were often the high up religious people. Both men and women would perform religious ceremonies including royal blood sacrifices. Men were the hunters and farmers in Mayan times. When farming men dig or plow a field his wife followed behind him, either sowing seeds or collecting the harvested items.
Woman
Mayan woman played a very important role in society. The were considered to be equal to men although they had different roles in society. They were the one's who cooked the food, both for consumption and sacrifice. Woman also worked on textiles, a very important resource and product for Mayan society. Sometimes woman would also collect food, such as foraging for berries.
Mayan woman also played an important role at court unlike other Mesoamerican nations such as the Inca's or the Aztec's. Mayan women could influence state affairs at the highest level. Although they were generally not the rulers, there were some exceptions where a Mayan woman of noble birth held all the title's and symbols of King. More commonly however, mothers and wives within the royal circle influenced governmental decisions.
Children
Both girls and boys received a lot of affection from their immediate and their extended family members. Once they were around the age of five they had to help with chores. Their gender determined what chores they helped out with.
Boys
Most Mayan families lived on farms so boys helped their fathers plant maize (corn). They also learned to fish, hunt, and make their own tools. Most children who's parents were farmers however, would most likely build temples or other buildings for the Mayan king when the boy grew up.
During Mayan ties, there were no public schools but wealthy families sometimes sent their sons to live with priests to learn how to serve the Gods and possibly even become a priest someday. Boys could also inherit their father’s occupations, which meant that family members often passed down their knowledge to the next generation. For wealthy and elite families that meant boys learnt how to become scribes and were taught how to read and write.
Girls
Girls had fewer opportunities to work outside the home than boys. They learned to how to weave with cotton and wool and how to cook food. They made clothes for the family and cooked tortillas from maize and dough. When the tortillas were cooked, they were stuffed with beans or meat. Although girls did did most of their work at hoe they were given the opportunity to go to the market with older woman (mums, grandmothers and other womanly figures). At the markets girls learnt how to trade and negotiate form their elders.
There were not many Job opportunities for Mayan girls although some became midwives or matchmakers. There is some historical evidence that suggests some Maya women learned to read and write and a few may have even been scribes.
Men were usually the rulers of Mayan times and were the Kings. They would make up most of the Royal circle and would influence the decisions made at court. Men were not expected to perform any domestic duties as these were left to the women. There was not a distinct difference between religion and government so the noble people of Mayan times were often the high up religious people. Both men and women would perform religious ceremonies including royal blood sacrifices. Men were the hunters and farmers in Mayan times. When farming men dig or plow a field his wife followed behind him, either sowing seeds or collecting the harvested items.
Woman
Mayan woman played a very important role in society. The were considered to be equal to men although they had different roles in society. They were the one's who cooked the food, both for consumption and sacrifice. Woman also worked on textiles, a very important resource and product for Mayan society. Sometimes woman would also collect food, such as foraging for berries.
Mayan woman also played an important role at court unlike other Mesoamerican nations such as the Inca's or the Aztec's. Mayan women could influence state affairs at the highest level. Although they were generally not the rulers, there were some exceptions where a Mayan woman of noble birth held all the title's and symbols of King. More commonly however, mothers and wives within the royal circle influenced governmental decisions.
Children
Both girls and boys received a lot of affection from their immediate and their extended family members. Once they were around the age of five they had to help with chores. Their gender determined what chores they helped out with.
Boys
Most Mayan families lived on farms so boys helped their fathers plant maize (corn). They also learned to fish, hunt, and make their own tools. Most children who's parents were farmers however, would most likely build temples or other buildings for the Mayan king when the boy grew up.
During Mayan ties, there were no public schools but wealthy families sometimes sent their sons to live with priests to learn how to serve the Gods and possibly even become a priest someday. Boys could also inherit their father’s occupations, which meant that family members often passed down their knowledge to the next generation. For wealthy and elite families that meant boys learnt how to become scribes and were taught how to read and write.
Girls
Girls had fewer opportunities to work outside the home than boys. They learned to how to weave with cotton and wool and how to cook food. They made clothes for the family and cooked tortillas from maize and dough. When the tortillas were cooked, they were stuffed with beans or meat. Although girls did did most of their work at hoe they were given the opportunity to go to the market with older woman (mums, grandmothers and other womanly figures). At the markets girls learnt how to trade and negotiate form their elders.
There were not many Job opportunities for Mayan girls although some became midwives or matchmakers. There is some historical evidence that suggests some Maya women learned to read and write and a few may have even been scribes.