Maya Civilization

Definition

The Maya civilization was an ancient Mesoamerican civilization developed by the Maya peoples in areas that today are southeastern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador.

Analogy

Think of the Maya civilization as an old-school Silicon Valley. Just as Silicon Valley is known for its technological innovations today, the Mayans were renowned for their advancements in fields such as astronomy and mathematics.

Related terms

Hieroglyphics: A system of writing using symbols or pictures used by the ancient Egyptians and Mayans. It's like their version of emojis but much more complex!

Stelae: Stone monuments erected by the Mayans often to commemorate important events or rulers. They're similar to modern-day statues or memorials we see in parks or city squares.

Calendar System: The Mayans developed one of the most accurate calendar systems in human history. Imagine if your planner was so precise it could predict celestial events thousands of years into the future!