The science of studying the earth and all of its features (such as landforms, bodies of water, cultures of people, and how people interact with their environment)

The invisible lines that run east-west and north-south to form an imaginary grid over the planet earth which are used for finding locations

The unit of measurement used for latitude and longitude; the symbol is a small circle found to the upper right of a coordinate

North, South, East, and West

Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, Southeast

0° degrees latitude line

0° degrees longitude line

The science of creating or designing maps

An ancient object such as an arrowhead, a bone, tool, or weapon that tells us about the past

The largest of the seven continents

Tool on a map that explains all of the symbols found on that map (usually in a text box found on the map)

Height above sea level

The largest of the four oceans

Global Positioning System used for navigation (e.g. in our cars and on our phones)

Continent that includes Mexico, Canada, and the United States

Ocean that borders the United States to the east.

Ocean that borders the United States to the west.

Probably the most famous Maya City; its grand pyramid is well known. This city is located in what now is Mexico. This Mayan city was not as big as Tikal, but it is the home of the Pyramid of the Sun, one of the most famous Maya structures still standing and a major tourist attraction today (Pyramid of the Sun is a massive step pyramid known as El Castillo)

An upright stone slab with an inscribed or sculptured surface. Mayan hieroglyphics would be inscribed on this stone slab.

A word symbol or picture writing. Both the Aztecs and the Mayans used these types of pictures in their writing systems

Made from the cocoa bean; the Maya invented this yummy sweet treat.

Tall buildings (sometimes like pyramids) made in honor of a Mayan King or a Mayan God.

Ancient Mayan creation myth; two Mayan boys had to play the ancient ball game pok ta pok against the gods of the underworld. When they won their father became the corn god and they became the sun and the moon.

A game played by the ancient Maya in which a large rubber ball was volleyed back and forth on a ball court. Sometimes the losers were sacrificed to the gods. This game may have been the first team sport.

A scientist who studies past cultures by analyzing their remains (artifacts).

Large peninsula in Mexico and Central America. Home of the Ancient Maya. Looks somewhat like a thumb sticking out into the Gulf of Mexico.

An ancient manuscript text in book form that tells about the lives of the Maya. There are only 4 of them left in existence because the Spanish burned them during conquest.

A large decorative coffin

The Mayan developed some of the first known ________________ to keep track of their days. They were extremely accurate because the Mayans were expert astronomers and they used this knowledge of the planets and stars to make them.

The Mayans did this because they believed according to their religion that this would please the gods. We would obviously consider this practice to be barbaric or murderous.

Also known as achievements: Magnificent cities, huge pyramids and temples, invented a writing system called hieroglyphics, created thousands of books called codices, first civilization to have chocolate, schools, libraries, hospitals, sports arenas, city-states, and calendars.

The year Archaeologists think that the Maya civilization first appeared in the Yucatan peninsula.

What modern-day countries did the Maya live in?