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Most artistic and cultural achievement came about during the Classic period 300 – 900 AD. The Mayans developed a complex hierarchical society divided into classes and professions. Centralized governments, headed by a king, and ruled territories with clearly defined boundaries. These borders changed as the various states lost and gained control over territory. Mayan centers flourished in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. The major cities of the Classic period were Guatemala, Chiapas, Mexico, and Honduras. For most of this period, the majority of the Mayans population lived in the central lowlands of Mexico and Belize. The Mayan culture, beginning in Central America hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, became the first highly developed civilization in the Western Hemisphere. The May, as early as 600 BC, had developed a sophisticated calendar, a system of picture writing, a style of architecture, sculpture and metalwork, as well as a highly organized government. Without question, the Maya greatly influenced the later development of Latin America. Teotihuacan that controlled the Mexican highlands from the first to the seventh centuries also influenced the Maya. The Mayan golden age lasted five centuries from 300 to 800 AD. Then, they stopped building temples, declined and became fragmented in competing states that were easy prey for invading forces from the north such as the Toltec, which had been expelled from Tula around the end of the 10th century. The Toltec's became the ruling elite of the Maya in the post classic period. Toltec gods were added to the Maya pantheon but the Toltec's were absorbed as they leaned to speak Yucatec Maya. All in all a marvelous and fascinating history. Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com
You will find a great selection of pre-Columbian antiquities, antiques, Mayan statues, pottery, history frames and much more. www.worldwidestore.com/30432c.htm
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