| The Guatemalan Highlands |
The Mayans in this region led the way from the Pre-Classic Period into the Classic Period
(300 B.C. - 300 A.D.). This was the transition zone when
Olmec
influence developed into the Mayan culture.
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| The Central Maya Area |
The Central Maya area consisted of the rain forests of central
Guatemala, and included the sites of Palenque and Tikal. The
principal elements of the Mayan civilization were developed here: temples
with corbel vaults, hieroglyphic writing, and the calendar system. This region flourished from 300 - 900 A.D. and
represented the climax of the Mayan civilization.
| The Northern Yucatan Peninsula |
This is the last area of Mayan dominance. It flourished after the abandonment of the southern
regions from 600 - 1200 A.D. Uxmal and Chichen-Itza were the
main ruling and ceremonial sites. The Puuc architecture style
reached its peak in this region.
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