Maya households facts for kids

The ancient Maya civilization had different groups of people, much like societies today. There were two main groups: the elite and the commoners. The elite were powerful leaders. They controlled the rules and beliefs of their cities. Most people, however, were commoners. Mayan families often lived close together. The kind of house a person had showed their importance. Elite families had bigger, stronger homes. The items inside a house also showed a family's status.

Mayan Homes and Families

Mayan families often lived in groups of homes. These groups were called households. Many family members lived near each other. They shared spaces like a garden, kitchen, or storage area. The number of shared buildings depended on the family's size. It also depended on what jobs the family members did.

Mayan women usually stayed at home. They cared for the children and the gardening. They taught their daughters these skills. Men went hunting and found food for the family. When a young man was ready to marry, he would build a new house. This house was often near his father's home. He and his wife would then live there and start their own family.

The basic shape of houses was similar for everyone. They were either oblong or rectangular. The main differences were the size and the building materials.

Every Mayan house had pottery. People used pottery for cooking, eating, and storing water. Commoners had simpler pottery. Elite families had fancy pottery for decoration and art. The items in elite homes showed their power and wealth.

Most Mayan houses had walls made of mud and stone. Their roofs were made of thatch. Straw was also used to protect homes from rain. These house styles stayed the same for over a thousand years.

Commoner Houses

Commoners made up most of the Mayan population. This group included skilled workers. Each commoner home was for a single family. This meant parents and their children.

Commoners did not have the power of the elite. So, their houses were built with materials that didn't last as long. They used trees, mud, and grass. Mud was packed onto the walls. This helped keep out rain and control the temperature. Grass or tree branches covered the roof. This stopped rain from getting inside. If a house had a cooking fire, there was a risk of fire. This was because most materials were not fire-resistant. Sometimes, a house had a stone foundation, but this was rare.

Most commoner homes were one big room. Sometimes, a wall divided the space. Families often decorated the front wall. They used lime to make it look whiter. The sleeping area was usually at the back. The front of the house had the door, which faced east. Some homes also had a small porch.

Families slept in the same room. Beds were made from small tree branches. A mat was placed on top for comfort. They used cotton cloths as blankets to stay warm at night. Commoner houses needed to be rebuilt often. This was because of the materials used.

When a family member died, they were often buried. This burial was usually under the house floor or near the home. This is one reason we know less about commoners than elites.

Elite Houses

The elite people in Maya society held great power. They were the kings and royalty of the cities. Because they were so powerful, they lived in the center of the city.

Family history was very important to the Maya. So, nobles also lived near their extended families. Kingship was passed down through families. To be royalty, you had to be born into the family or marry into it.

Elite people needed to show their power. They built much larger homes than commoners. They also used better materials. High-quality materials made their houses last longer. One way to protect homes was using strong stone walls and roofs. This made them harder for enemies to damage. It also made them less likely to burn down. Their houses were also built on high platforms. This was different from the smaller dirt mounds used by commoners. The elite had more ways to bury their relatives. Instead of under the house, they were buried inside special temples.