Maya
Maya Outstanding culture of classic American civilization. Occupying s Mexico and n Central America, it was at its height from the 3rd to 9th centuries. The Maya built great temple-cities, with buildings surmounting stepped pyramids. They were skilful potters and weavers, and productive farmers. They worshipped gods and ancestors, and blood sacrifice was an important element of religion. Maya civilization declined in the 10th century, and much was destroyed after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The modern Maya, numbering c.4 million, live in the same area and speak a variety of languages related to that of their ancestors.
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Maya
