KS2 / KS3 History: What did the Maya eat?

Video summary

This cooking show parody introduces pupils to Maya food.

Ixnal makes a hot chocolate drink, Iktan a stew to his own finger-licking recipe, and Kawoq uses what we would consider exotic ingredients in his ambitious Maya tasting menu.

These three chefs complete for the ultimate Maya privilege: the opportunity to cook for King Chan Chak K’Ak’Nal Ajaw.

Who will impress the judges with their imaginative use of ingredients and spices?

This short film mentions a variety of traditional Maya ingredients and cooking methods, and provides additional information about typical farmed crops.

This short film is from the BBC series, History of Early Civilisations - Maya. Through parodies of reality TV shows, this series introduces different aspects of the Maya civilisation.

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Teacher Notes

Devise a Maya menu.

Compile a class glossary of Maya terms and create a crossword with definitions.

Explore and prepare similar foods from current Mexican diet.

Discuss the benefits or otherwise of a Maya diet.

This short film is suitable for teaching history at Key Stages 2 and 3 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Second and Third Level in Scotland.

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Maya Civilisation

This entertaining reality TV parody gives an insight into traditional Maya jobs, social structure and career expectations.

Jobs in Maya civilisation

This entertaining reality TV parody shows traditional male and female Maya clothing, as well as fashion accessories and body decoration in different social groups.

Fashion in Maya civilisation

Maya inventors present their ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs, hoping for an investment of cacao beans, in this entertaining reality TV parody.

Mayan Innovations & Inventions

In this entertaining reality TV parody, a labourer designs, builds and furnishes his nah, or traditional Maya home.

What did Maya houses & buildings look like?

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Islamic Golden Age, circa AD900

This entertaining reality TV parody introduces AD900 Baghdad and the typical occupations for both men and women, touching on how women were respected but lacked influence in early Islamic society.

Jobs in 900AD Baghdad

This entertaining reality TV parody shows traditional male and female Islamic clothing circa AD900, as two plainly clothed merchants prepare to visit the House of Wisdom.

Great Fashion in Baghdad 900AD

In this entertaining reality TV parody, a nomad has decided to settle down in AD900 Baghdad. He designs, builds and furnishes his traditional family house.

How Houses looked in Baghdad 900AD

Insight into Islamic innovations and inventions in a parody of a popular reality TV show.

Invention & Innovation in Baghdad 900AD

This entertaining reality TV parody introduces early Islamic diet, ingredients and food preparation circa AD900.

What food did they eat in Baghdad 900AD

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