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The Maya civilization is a Mesoamerica n Civilization , noted for the only known fully developed Written Language of the Pre-Columbian Americas, as well as its spectacular Art , monumental Architecture , and sophisticated Mathematical and Astronomical systems. Initially established during the Preclassic Period , many of these reached their apogee of development during the Classic Period (c. 250 to 900 ), and continued throughout the Postclassic period until the Arrival Of The Spanish . At its peak, it was one of the most densely populated and culturally dynamic societies in the world. The Maya civilization shares many features with other Mesoamerican civilizations due to the high degree of interaction and Cultural Diffusion that characterized the region. Advances such as Writing , Epigraphy , and the Calendar did not originate with the Maya; however, their civilization fully developed them. Maya influence can be detected as far as central Mexico , more than 1000 Km (625 miles) from the Maya Area . Many outside influences are found in Maya Art and Architecture , which are thought to result from trade and cultural exchange rather than direct external conquest. The Maya Peoples never disappeared, neither at the time of the Classic period decline nor with the arrival of the Spanish '' Conquistador es'' and the subsequent Spanish Colonization Of The Americas . Today, the Maya and their descendants form sizable populations throughout the Maya area and maintain a distinctive set of traditions and beliefs that are the result of the merger of pre-Columbian and post-Conquest Ideologies (and structured by the almost total adoption of Roman Catholicism ). Many different Mayan Languages continue to be spoken as primary languages today; the Rabinal Achí , a play written in the Q'eqchi' Language , was declared a Masterpiece Of The Oral And Intangible Heritage Of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION The geographic extent of the Maya civilization, known as the Maya area, extended throughout the northern Central America n region, including the present-day nations of Guatemala , Belize , western Honduras , El Salvador , and the southern Mexican states of Chiapas , Tabasco , and the Yucatán Peninsula states of Quintana Roo , Campeche and Yucatán . As the largest sub-region in Mesoamerica, it encompassed a vast and varied landscape, from the mountainous regions of the Sierra Madre to the semi-arid plains of Northern Yucatán . Climate in the Maya region can vary tremendously, as the low-lying areas are particularly susceptible to the Hurricane s and Tropical Storm s that frequent the Caribbean . The Maya area is generally divided into three loosely defined zones: the southern Maya highlands, the southern (or central) Maya lowlands, and the northern Maya lowlands. The southern Maya highlands include all of elevated terrain in Guatemala and the Chiapas Highlands . The southern lowlands lie just north of the highlands, and incorporate the Petén of northern Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and the southern portions of the Mexican states of Campeche and Quintana Roo. The northern lowlands cover the remainder of the Yucatán Peninsula, including the Puuc hills.1
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| For Reasons That Are Still Debated, The Maya Centers Of The Southern Lowlands Went Into Decline During The | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/8th_century" class="copylinks">8th and 9th Centuries and were abandoned shortly thereafter This decline was coupled with a cessation of monumental inscriptions and large-scale architectural construction{{cite book last=Coe first=Michael D title=The Maya edition=6th publisher=Thames & Hudson year=2002 pages=pp 151-155 |
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