Maya Time Period:
During
the Middle Preclassic Period, which lasted until about 300 B.C., Maya farmers
began to expand their presence both in the highland and lowland regions. The
Middle Preclassic Period also saw the rise of the first major Mesoamerican
civilization, the Olmecs.
A stelle from Yaxchilan showing tribute being paid by
three wise men (or one lieutenant and two prisoners, actually) to Itzamnaaj
B’alam III (literally: Shield of the Sky Diety Jaguar the third).
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| Ancient Maya Photography Collected from Web. |
The Maya civilization was one of the most dominant indigenous societies of Mesoamerica (a term used to describe Mexico and Central America before the 16th century Spanish conquest). Unlike other scattered indigenous populations of Mesoamerica, the Maya were centered in one geographical block covering all of the Yucatan Peninsula and modern-day Guatemala; Belize and parts of the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas; and the western part of Honduras and El Salvador. This concentration showed that the Maya remained relatively secure from invasion by other Mesoamerican peoples.Full Story
