Mexico Pre-Hispanic History relates Mayas beginnings are traced back to 1500 B.C. Mayas enter the Classic period approximately 300 A.D. prospering between 600 and 900 A.D. According to Mexico Pre-Hispanic History, the Mayas are the largest ethnic group in Mesoamerica, extending through Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and parts of the states of Tabasco and Chiapas, as well as Guatemala, Belize and parts of western Honduras and El Salvador.
Mayas are usually considered the most intelligent of all the Classic groups. Mayas, were consolidators of all Mexico Pre-Hispanic History findings, such as the most perfect pyramids, engineering, water supply, mathematics, the use of the zero, the Mayan Abacus, astronomy, today’s universal calendar, medicine, fine arts, intensive agriculture, animal domestication, the use of copper and gold…..
Mexico Pre-Hispanic History narrates that Maya cities and territory, were control centers where politicians and priests decided on labor, enforcing obedience and collecting the tribute of the people who accepted and believed in them. Although the Aztec belligerent presence and collection of some tributes, control of the population was still retained by the Maya governing class.
An extended and roomy road system interconnected domains, supported commerce, exchange and open communication with all Mayan centers. The foundation of the Maya culture, was Agriculture, which included beans, corn, chili peppers, squash and also crops of cacao and cotton. Among their Gods were Itzamna and Ixchel, father and mother of all other gods, as well as Chac god of rain. Kukulcan was the Mayan name for the famous feathered serpent, god of the governing caste who blesses the earth every Equinox.
The Mayas built their ceremonial centers following the typical design of all Mesoamerica, constructing high pyramidal temples, widespread ball courts around an open central plaza. Architectural characteristic features of Maya pyramids included towering roofs, corbel tombs and complex ornament with stucco relief, shown on their multicolored ceramic, on detailed stalls, eloquent murals, altars; as well as other sculptures and stone carvings. You will note a baroque quality in the artistic design of the Mayas.
The Maya highlands were the first ones to erect the earliest buildings in the Pre-Classic. Later near the end of the Classic Period, between 250 and 900 AD, the lowlands witnessed the upsurge of mega cities, such as Tikal located in the northeast of the Guatemala´s Petén Department, as well as Calkmul in Campeche and other large Sites such as Palenque, Bonampak, Copan. On the Yucatan Peninsula, the Puuc cities, Uxmal and the low lands on the Yucatan Peninsula with Chichen Itza, Koba, Ek Balam and Tulum, among others. Many of these temples contain inscriptions or engravings of the Mayan hieroglyphic scripture