c. 2000 BCE – 1697 CEMesoamerica (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize)

Maya

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A Mesoamerican civilisation of city-states renowned for hieroglyphic writing, astronomy, mathematics and step pyramids.

Religion

Polytheistic, with a complex cosmos of underworld (Xibalba) and upper world; blood sacrifice central.

Technology

Long Count calendar, vigesimal mathematics, the concept of zero, hieroglyphic script.

Writing

Maya hieroglyphs — the most developed writing system in the pre-Columbian Americas.

Architecture

Step pyramids, ballcourts, palaces and astronomical observatories.

Major sites

2 known locations

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Multi-proxy climate records reveal drought conditions during the Classic Maya collapse.

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