Mayan Academics
The Mayans were geniuses with more than farming, astronomy, and architecture. They were advanced in the field of academics. The two things they were most known for is mathematics, and their writing system.
Mathematics
The Mayans were geniuses in the field of mathematics. They calculated a 365 day calendar. They were so precise with their astronomical studies that they were only 33 seconds off from our current calendar. They even had a 0, which for most civilizations at their time was unheard of. Only five other civilizations had a 0.
Base-20
The Mayan unlike us, had a base 20 system. It means that they count by 20s instead of 10s like us. This is partly because instead of just counting by our fingers, they also counted their toes as well. Their base 20 system only had 3 symbols. 3 symbols to represent really any number.
These three symbols were:
Shell: Represented a 0 in the Mayan math system
Dot: Represents 1
Line: Represents 5
Below: The Mayan Numeral system.
Numbers after 19
Numbers after 19 were written vertically. One on top of each other in powers of twenty. If you wanted to write a twenty, you'd write a dot over a shell. The shell is a placeholder. So a dot over anything can mean 20. If you wanted to write 400, you'd write a dot over two shells. So on and so forth. If you wanted to write a complex number such as 429, you would write a bar and four dots on the bottom = 9, a dot above that, and another dot above THAT. That symbolizes 429.
Addition and Subtraction
Adding and subtracting is really no different that ours. Addition is done by combining the symbols at each level. If there are 5 or more dots, it is replaced by a bar. If there are 4 or more bars, it is replaced by a dot above the below symbols. This applies to subtraction as well. If there are not enough dots it is replaced by five dots. If there are not enough bars, a dot is removed from the next higher symbol in the column and four bars are added to the current symbol.
Below: Examples of mayan math.
Mayan Writing System
Out of all the people, the Mayan had a writing system. Many civilizations just drew pictures of what they wanted to say, but it was hard to dicipher the pictures and their EXACT meaning. Their writting system was a mix of symbols and pictures, yet all had a meaning. They came up with hieroglyphic symbols and each had a meaning. Another component of the Writing System that made it unique was its use of syllables. It was a very complex writing system to our standards. But after all, the Maya are a complex people.
Below: The Mayan writing system.
