SmallWhale

Mayan Civilization: Amazing Ancient Builders!

Imagine a super-smart ancient people who built giant pyramids and knew a lot about stars!

Images

can8602_16, El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

can8602_16, El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

openverse
can8602_23, El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_36, The Great Ball Court and Temple of the Jaguars, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_22, Carved Stone Ring, Great Ball Court, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_13, Temple of the Warriors, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_18, El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_07, Temple of the Warriors, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_37, The Great Ball Court and Temple of the Jaguars, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_03, Temple of the Warriors, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_34, El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_01, Wall of Skulls (Tzompantli), Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
can8602_12, The Great Ball Court and Temple of the Jaguars, Chichen Itza, Maya Ruins, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Key Facts

Location
Mexico and Central America.
Time Period
Flourished for thousands of years, with major cities built between 250 and 900 AD.
Famous For
Building large pyramids, developing a complex writing system, and advanced knowledge of astronomy.
Fun Fact
The Maya invented a game played with a rubber ball that could be very dangerous!

Where Did the Maya Live?

Long, long ago, a clever group of people called the Maya lived in a place that is now Mexico and Central America. They built amazing cities with huge stone buildings, like pyramids that reached for the sky! These cities were like busy towns, filled with people, markets, and temples. They loved to play games and tell stories, just like you do!

Super Smarty Pants Maya!

The Maya were super smart! They invented their own special writing, like a secret code with pictures and symbols. They also became amazing astronomers, which means they studied the stars and planets. They could even predict when eclipses would happen, which is like knowing when the sun or moon will hide for a little bit. They were like ancient scientists!

Building Big and Beautiful!

The Maya built incredible pyramids that were taller than many trees! Some of their buildings were so big, they could fit a school bus inside. They used clever ways to build these giant structures without modern machines. They also made beautiful art, like colorful pottery and fancy jewelry, showing off their amazing skills and creativity.

What Happened to the Maya?

After many years of living in their amazing cities, the Maya civilization changed. Some cities became empty, and people moved away. Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly why this happened, but it might have been because of things like not enough rain or big changes in their world. But the Maya people and their culture are still around today!

Was this helpful?
W

Based on content from Wikipedia · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0