Page 60 - All About History - Issue 16-14

Secrets of the Mayans

Timeline of a great civilisation

1800 BCE 250 BCE – 100 CE 250-800 800-900 1000-1500
The birth of a The preclassic era The mighty Mayans Widespread collapse The north lives on
civilisation In the Northern Mayan Large-scale urbanism Major cities in the southern The northern cities
Mayan settlements lowlands, smaller Mayan and construction occurs lowlands fall into decline thrive, building highways
are established in the communities begin to and powerful city-states and are abandoned. The to increase trade. After
Soconusco region of the develop, distinct from emerge. The population origins of this event, the decline of the cities
Pacific coast. Mayans the large centres in the increases to millions known as the classic of Chichen and Uxmal,
establish permanent southern lowlands. The and the political and Mayan collapse, remain Mayapan rules over much
communities and the first Mayan hieroglyphics economic network a mystery, with various of the territory until a
first fired clay figures emerge in written steadily expands theories such as drought, revolt in 1450. Small
and pottery pieces are inscriptions in stone This earthenware throughout the wider warfare or an ecological pockets of southern states
produced. around this time. lidded vessel is an Mesoamerican world. disaster suggested. slowly reconstruct.
example of Mayan art
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