The first people to live in Mexico were called the Olmec. They did NOT leave behind writing but did leave artifacts or objects. Stone carvings, large statues, and other tools were found but most people probably worked as farmers. They used a method of farming called slash & burn and grew corn, beans, and squash as well as other crops. Corn (also called maize) was their most important crop and they used it to make tortillas, tamales, and flat bread-like pancakes. Slash and burn was used to clear an area to farm. They would slash (cut down the rain forest) and burn it to make the soil more fertile.
Many years later, the Maya settled in the same area which had been mysteriously abandoned by the Olmec people. The Mayans had lots in common with the Olmec. They believed in many gods, called polytheism, and especially worshiped the jaguar. Why they both liked the jaguar is still a mystery to us. There is evidence that the Mayans worshiped this animal too because they left behind carvings and statues of jaguars. They built large pyramids believed to be used for religious prayer and sacrifices. What is amazing is they did not use the wheel or animals for work. They never invented the wheel or trained animals to help them. All this was done with human strength and probably lots of hard work.
Boys and girls were treated and raised differently. When boys were in their teens they moved away from their family and into large group homes. There they learned to play a ball game called pokta pok. If they were good, this might become their job - professional ball player. We will learn more about this game later. If they weren't very good, they would learn another job to help the city - farmer, builder, craftsman, or something else. Girls stayed at home where they were strictly raised by their mothers. They learned to run a house which means mainly cooking and cleaning.
We know that the Mayans kept track of time because they made an accurate calendar probably by studying the sky. The Mayans left behind written records called 'glyphs'. They also used glyphs to represent numbers. Unfortunately, many of the Mayan books and written records were burned by the country of Spain when they invaded this land.
Due to the climate, people wore simple and light clothes because of the heat and humidity. They especially liked jewelry. Many statues and carvings show them wearing earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Important leaders often wore a headdress made of feathers and beads. They made game balls from the sap of a tree. Musical instruments have also been found. They used clay and wood to make flutes. All these prove they had specialized work or jobs. This means they learned special skills other than survival.
A big mystery is what happened to these people. Archaeologists have pieced together the lives of these people through artifacts left behind or found in other locations. Mayan made objects were even found over 300 miles away from their cities. However, nobody has ever figured out exactly what happened to them. The Maya suddenly abandoned their cities around the year 850. Archaeologists give many different possible scenarios. They range from an earthquake or hurricane, to disease, war, and even a drought or food shortage.