The ancient Maya civilization developed sophisticated urban centers across Mesoamerica between 1500 BC and the 16th century AD. They built elaborate pyramids and structures in cities like Tikal, Palenque, and Chichen Itza, and developed advanced astronomy, mathematics, and the most complex writing system in the Americas. While their cities flourished from 300-900 AD, the Maya civilization began to decline around 900 AD for unknown reasons. Some remnants of the Maya continued until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century.

1. The ancient Maya are famous for their knowledge of the stars. The
idea of time fascinated them. Like the Egyptians, they built
pyramids, often elaborately adorned with murals and elaborate
architectural details.
The Maya civilization was very advanced, perhaps, the most
advanced of all ancient Mesoamerican cultures.
The Maya civilization flourished in Central America .The Maya
World, as is known today, comprises mainly, five countries :
Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize.

2. Classic Maya culture developed in three regions in Mesoamerica.
By far the most complete urban developments were in the
lowlands in the "central region" of southern Guatemala. This
region is a drainage basin about sixty miles long and twenty miles
wide and covered by tropical rain forest.
The Mayas are only one of two peoples to develop an urban
culture in a tropical ranest.
The principal city in this region was Tikal. The most Southern
Mayan city was Copan in northern Pque. The other major region
of Mayan growth was the Yucatan peninsula making up the
northern and eastern portions of modern-day Guatemala. This is a
dry region but city centers were built including Chichen Itza and
Uxmal (pronounced "Oosh-mal") After the Classic Mayan cities
were abandoned, the Yucatán peninsula became the main region
of a new, culture called Toltec-Mayan which was formed when
Toltecs coming from the north mixed with the native Maya
peoples
The Mayans built very sophisticated
city centers. They understood
astronomy and mathematics and had
the most developed and complex
system of writing in the Americas.
Almost all the urban centers were built in tropical rain forest. This
is the probably the biggest reason why the Mayans never
developed a fully urban culture. Topical rain forest is difficult to
live in. and can only support small groups of humans.
While plant and animal growth seems almost out of control and the
rains never stop, tropical rain forest makes very poor farming land.
A greater amount of area is required to support each person—and
people tend to spread out rather than form cities.

3. They developed astronomy, calendar systems and writing. They
built elaborate pyramids and observatories, all without metal tools.
They were highly skilled as potters and weavers Their centers began
to decline around AD 900, for reasons still unknown. Some of the
centers continued until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century.
Classic Maya culture developed in three regions in Mesoamerica.
By far the most complete urban developments were in the lowlands
in the "central region" of southern Guatemala. This region is a
drainage basin about sixty miles long and twenty miles wide and
covered by tropical rain forest.
The Mayas are only one of two peoples to develop an urban culture
in a tropical rainforest.
The principal city in this region wasTikal. The most Southern
Mayan city was Copan in northern Honduras. In the Guatemalan
highlands to the north, Mayan culture developed less fully. The
highlands seem to have been the main suppliers of raw materials to
the central urban centers.
A very large center is Palenque. The other major region of Mayan
growth was the Yucatan peninsula making up the northern and
eastern portions of modern-day Guatemala. This is a dry region but
city centers were built including Chichen Itza and Uxmal
(pronounced "Oosh-mal") After the Classic Mayan cities were
abandoned, the Yucatán peninsula became the main region of a
new, culture called Toltec-Mayan which was formed when Toltecs
coming from the north mixed with the native Maya peoples
Almost all the urban centers were built in tropical rain forest. This is
the probably the biggest reason why the Mayans never developed a

4. fully urban culture. Topical rain forest is difficult to live in. and can
only support small groups of humans.
While plant and animal growth seems almost out of control and the
rains never stop, tropical rain forest makes very poor farming land. A
greater amount of area is required to support each person—and
people tend to spread out rather than form cities.
There may never more than 30 people per square mile during the
classic period.
So the Mayan accomplishments are truly awe-inspiring.
Like the Egyptians, the Mayas are well known for pyramids, which vary in shape depending on
where they were built. The Maya occupied the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.
The civilization was formed as early as 1500 BC.
The Mayan religion centered around the worship of many nature gods. Their amazing
architecture remain as great ruins at centers they used for religious ceremonies, including
Palenque, Uxmal, Copán, Tikal and Chichén Itzá.
They developed astronomy, calendar systems and writing. They built observatories to watch
stars. They were highly skilled as potters and weavers.
About AD 300 to 900 the major centers including Palenque, Tikal, and Copán were
mysteriously abandoned. The reasons are still unknown. A few centers continued until the
Spanish arrived in the 16th century.
1200-1000 Olmec
1800-900 Early Preclassic Maya
900-300 Middle Preclassic Maya
300 B.C. - A.D. 250 Late Preclassic Maya
250-600 Early Classic Maya
600-900 Late Classic Maya
900-1500 Post Classic Maya
1521-1821 Colonial period
1821- today Independent Mexico
11,000 The first hunter-gatherers settle in the Maya highlands and lowlands.
3114-3113 The creation of the world takes place, according to the Maya Long Count calendar.
2000 The rise of the Olmec civilization, from which many aspects of Maya culture are derived.
Village farming becomes established throughout Maya regions.
700 Mayan Writing is developed.
400 The earliest known solar calendars are carved in stone.
300 The Maya adopt the idea of a society ruled by nobles and kings.
100 The city of Teotihuacán is founded in the rainforest and for hundreds of years is the
cultural, religious and trading centre

5. 100 Decline of the Olmecs.
400 Maya highlands are under the domination of Teotihuacán The end of Maya culture and
language begins in some parts of the region
500 Tikal becomes the first great Maya city. Citizens from Teotihuacán arrive, with new ideas
for weapons, and human devotion.
600 A mysterious event destroys Teotihuacán. Tikal becomes the largest city in Mesoamérica.
Tours still run to Tikal today.
683 At age 80, The Emperor Pacal dies . He is buried in the Temple of the Inscriptions at
Palenque. Mayan Pyramids can still be seen today
751 Trade between Maya areas declines and conflict increases.
869 In Tikal, construction stops and the city begins to come to an end.
899 Tikal is abandoned.
900 The Classic Period of Maya history ends, with the collapse of the southern lowland cities.
Maya cities in the northern Yucatán continue to thrive. Development of the Puuc style in
Uxmal, Kabah and Labná.
1200 Northern Maya cities begin to be abandoned.
1224 The city of Chichén Itzá in Yucatan is abandoned by the Toltecs. The Itzá people settle in
the deserted area.
1244 The Itzá leave Chichén Itzá Mexico for unknown reasons
1263 The Itzá begin building the city of Mayapán.
1283 Mayapán becomes the capital of Yucatán
1441 Mayapán is abandoned by 1461. After this, warring groups compete to rule over the
others.
1517 The Spanish first arrive on the shores of Yucatán under Hernández de Córdoba, The
arrival of the Spanish brings diseases to the Maya including smallpox, influenza and measles.
Within a century, 90 per cent of Mesoamérica's native populations will have died.
1519 Hernán Cortés begins exploring Yucatán.
1524 Cortés meets the Itzá people, the last of the Maya to remain free of the Spanish.
1528 The Spanish begin their conquest of the northern Maya. The Maya fight back
1541 The Spanish conquer the Maya.
1542 The Spanish establish a capital city at Mérida in Yucatán.
1695 The ruins of Tikal in Guatamela are discovered by a Spanish priest, who had become lost
in the jungle.
1697 The city of Tayasal, capital of the Itzá in the Petén, is taken by the Spanish. It was the last
Maya independent political entity
1712 The Maya of the Chiapas highlands rise against the Mexican government. They continue
to do so off and on until today.
1821 Mexico becomes independent from Spain.
1839 American diplomat and amateur archaeologist John Lloyd Stephens and English artist
Frederick Catherwood begin exploring Maya regions
1847 The Yucatán Maya rise up against the Mexican government. The rebellion is so
successful that the Maya almost take over the entire peninsula in the "War of the Castes".
1910 The Mexican Revolution begins.
1952 The Priest-king Pacal's tomb at Palenque is discovered
1962 Maya hieroglyphic signs are first catalogued . Looting of Maya tombs and sites begins
around this time in the southern lowlands.
Today the Maya homeland is being studied by archaeologists.
They unearth buildings to reconstruct local cultures. They date
and compare artifacts to determine where the Maya traded and
what their daily lives were like. They work with botanists,
who study ancient pollen to detect changes in the climate and
environment, and art historians who examine art and
architecture.

6. Epigraphers decipher hieroglyphs to recover the history and stories from the Mayas. Just 30
years ago, a team of scientists figured out that the Maya clearly used complex sentence
structure. Before then scientists thought the glyphs (the pictures that stand for words) were
lists of dates and heroic feats. The Maya wrote stories that used plays on words and other
language techniques. Led by expert scientists, hundreds of students continue to solve the
mysteries. They work in thatched huts and work under the direction of Maya archaeologists