What is the history of Maya civilization?
Maya history stretches across a long period in Mesoamerica and was not one centralized empire.
Historical context and developments
Independent cities developed farming, trade, writing, calendars and architecture. Centers such as Tikal and Palenque had changing political ties. Population decline in some cities did not mean Maya peoples vanished.
Consequences and interpreting sources
Maya communities and languages continue today. Inscriptions, archaeology and living knowledge all matter; apocalyptic claims about calendars are unsupported.
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