The Maya civilization (Maya) was an ancient civilization located in Central America such as southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Contrary to legend, the Maya never disappeared; three million Mayans still live in these areas, and many still speak Mayan languages ??today.

The Mayans never had a unified and powerful empire. The entire Mayan region was divided into hundreds of city-states. However, the Mayan states belonged to the same cultural circle in terms of language, religious beliefs, and customs.

History Generally, the Mayan civilization is divided into three periods. The period from 1500 BC to 300 AD is called the Preclassic period or the Formative Period, the period from 300 AD to 900 AD is the Classical period, and the period from 900 AD to the 16th century is the Postclassic period.

Legend has it that the Mayans began building religious buildings 3,000 years ago. The earliest ruins were composed of simple earth tombs, and later evolved into pyramids.

The early Mayan civilization seemed to have been influenced by the earlier Olmec civilization.

The Olmec civilization declined and perished after spreading their culture to today's Yucatan Peninsula.

The period between 200 BC and 900 AD was the most prosperous period of Mayan culture.

The Mayans developed hundreds of cities in this area, and Tikal (also translated as Tikal) was the largest of them. Scholars estimate that at its peak, the city had 100,000 to 200,000 residents.

They developed into many city-states with intensive agriculture and concentrated cities.

Among the most notable remains are the pyramids built in religious centers and the royal palaces that accompanied them.

Other important archaeological remains are the carved stone tablets (Tetun in Maya), which are tablets written in hieroglyphs describing genealogies, war victories and other achievements.

Palenque was the most beautiful Mayan city in the classical era, so much so that people even called it the "Athens of America".

Another famous city is called Copan. Judging from the scale of modern ruins, Tikal, Copan and Palenque can be regarded as the three largest city-states in the classical period of Mayan civilization.

The Mayans were also involved in long-distance trade in ancient Mesoamerica, with their main commodities being cocoa, salt and obsidian.

Beginning in the ninth century AD, the city-states of the classical Mayan civilization suddenly declined simultaneously. This phenomenon is somewhat surprising, and its reasons are still a subject of research by historians.

By the tenth century AD, the once prosperous Mayan cities were abandoned in the jungle.

After that, a number of Mayan city-states emerged in the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, led by Chichén Itza. At this time, what is historically known as the postclassic period of Mayan civilization began.

The city-state regime of Chichen Itza was overthrown in 1224 AD, followed by a city-state alliance headed by Mayapan.

In 1450, the Mayapan regime collapsed due to civil strife.

When the Spanish arrived in the Americas, the Maya region was effectively falling apart.

Compared with the classical civilization of the Tikal, Copán and Palenque periods, the post-classical Mayan civilization of Chichen Itza and Mayapan is very different in all aspects, and can only be said to be the last remnants of the Mayan civilization.

Most Maya city-states in the classical period attached great importance to recording history. Most city-states erected various monuments at regular intervals. It is through these monuments that today's archaeologists can understand the history of the Mayan civilization, and because the Maya

The calendar was so precise that historians today even know the precise dates of many events.

For example, King Eighteen Rabbits of Copan was beheaded on May 3, 738 AD after his defeat. Another example is King Bajar of Palenque, who was born on March 6, 603 AD. He was twelve years old on July 19, 615 AD.

The king who ascended the throne that year died on August 30, 684 AD.

Such accurate historical records are unmatched by other ancient and lost civilizations in the world.

The post-classical Maya civilization after the decline of the classical Maya civilization did not reach the above-mentioned level of accuracy. Today’s historical events about Chichen Itza and Mayapan are mainly known from the legends heard by the early Spaniards from the locals.

Characteristics of civilization: Belonging to a stone civilization, the Mayans did not invent and use bronze tools, let alone iron tools.

Mastering a high degree of construction technology, the Mayans did not use copper and iron, nor did they use wheeled vehicles. Although the concept of wheels appeared in pottery and other cultural relics, it was not practical in real life.

However, it created a high degree of urban civilization. Agriculture uses corn as the staple food, so it is also called the "corn civilization". There are no cattle, horses, pigs and sheep, and there are no traces of animal husbandry. Farmers adopt an extremely primitive milpa farming method.

Mathematics uses the decimal system, discovered and used "zero", and mastered a high degree of mathematics and astronomical calendar knowledge.

Use unique hieroglyphics: Mayan writing Culture Art Palenque relief Mayan jade Height 195mm Bonampak murals Many people believe that the Classical period (200 BC to 900 BC) Mayan art was the most mature and beautiful in ancient American civilization.

The carvings and reliefs of Palenque and the statues of Copán are considered the most perfect, displaying the grace and accurate observation of the Classic Maya.