Definition
The Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican culture that flourished across what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. It developed over millennia and reached its peak, known as the Classic period, roughly between 250 and 900 CE.
Unlike a single unified empire, the Maya world was a network of independent city-states — places such as Tikal, Palenque, and Copán — that traded, competed, and warred with one another while sharing a common culture, religion, and writing system.
Why it matters
How it works
Maya society was organized around city-states ruled by kings who were both political leaders and religious figures. Agriculture, especially maize, supported dense populations, and elaborate religious ceremonies tied to the calendar structured public life.
Around the ninth century CE, many southern Maya cities were abandoned in what is called the Classic Maya collapse, likely driven by some combination of drought, warfare, environmental strain, and political failure. The Maya people did not disappear, however — millions of their descendants live in the region today.