Maya Civilization

The Maya civilization flourished in Mesoamerica for over three millennia. In the Classic period (250–900 CE) it developed sophisticated city-states with elaborate calendars, hieroglyphic writing, advanced mathematics (including zero), and monumental architecture. Major centers included Tikal, Palenque, Copán, and Calakmul. The political structure consisted of competing city-states rather than a unified empire. The mysterious collapse of Classic Maya cities around 900 CE is attributed to a combination of drought, warfare, and political fragmentation. The Postclassic period saw Chichén Itzá rise to prominence. The last independent Maya kingdom fell to Spanish conquistadors in 1697.

MyHistorian
A causal knowledge graph of history