Ancient Maya
The lost civilization
By Georgia
900 AD
325 AD
The Classic Peroid occured from A.D 250 - A.D 900. During this peroid the Mayan population numbered in the millions. The Mayans created kingdoms and small empires, developed ceremonies and developed an elaborate hieroglphic writing style.
In 751 AD the Mayan communication begins to break down. Trading routes become less used and forgotten. Interactions and festival celebrations between neighbouring cities declines and then ultimately ceases.
The powerful city Teotihuac`an dominates the highlands forcing other smaller cities to be abandoned. The end of Mayan culture and skill begins in certain regions. The city of Teotihuac`an is mysteriously destroyed later in the 600s.
1300 AD or 1529
1100 AD
By early 1500 the Mayans were conqured by the Spainards. The Spainards forced them to become Chistian and respect the values and rights of the Christian religion. The Leader of the Spaniards also destroyed all but four Mayan books as well as forbiding the Mayans to ever speak of their language again. However some of the Mayans seccretly practised their values and language with one another.
With the arrival of the Spainards, many Mayan people grew sick and died. This is because they had caught diseases from the Spaniards which they had no immunity to and treatment of it available.
The inhabitance of the Mayan lowlands declined in the 8th and 9th centuries and shortly after became abandoned. It is unsure why this happened, however some scholars believe that a 200 year drought occured. Research drew this conclusion based on samples of lakes and cave sediments around the Mayan area.
Mild droughts took place between AD 800 and AD 950.
Chich`en becomes the most powerful city in Mesoamerica around 1000 AD.
Timeline
Preclassic peroid - 1500 BC - 250 AD
Classic peroid - 250 AD - 900 AD
Postclassic period - 900 AD - 1300 AD or 1529
1500 BC
250 AD
875 BC
Around 100 A.D their was an abandoment of the Mayan cities. This is called the Preclassic collapse and marks the end of the Preclassic era. This period of this era was a slow proccess and lasted for about 150 years. It is believed that the Mayans endured droughts as well as interactions with unknown and disturbing civilizations which them to flee their cities.
The Mayans began to build their larger pyramids between 600 B.C and 400 B.C. This took place in middle of the preclassic period.
In 36 BC it is believed that the Mayans established the (one of the first ever known) concept of the number zero in the world.
Around 400 BC the Mayans developed a chocolate drink made from cocao. This drink was very popular among the rich and the poor and tasted rather bitter.
As well as the introduction of the Mayan chocolate drink, the Mayans also fully developed their writing script. This was made up of over 1 000 different symbols.
By 800 B.C the Mayan low lands were completely developed. At this time the Olmec (the first major civilization in Mexico) lived west of the Mayans and the Mayans began to build tempels, pyramids and carve stone monuments like the Olmecs.
In 1500 BC villages and small towns began to emerge from the South American forrests. This marks the start of the Preclassic period.