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The Maya (MAH-yuh or MEYE-uh) civilization existed in Central America on the Yucatan peninsula between from A.D. 300 to 900.  Its population totaled 5-16 million people.   

The Maya (MAH-yuh or MEYE-uh) civilization existed in Central America on the Yucatan peninsula between from A.D. 300 to 900.  Its population totaled 5-16 million people.   

The Mayans have been called the "Greeks of the New World" by many historians.  The Mayans had some knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, ritual ball games for entertainment, and the use of their own pictographic language.  Unlike Europeans at the time, Mayans did understand the concept of zero just as the Indians in South Asia did.

The [[Mayans]] have been called the "Greeks of the New World" by many historians.  The Mayans had some knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, ritual ball games for entertainment, and the use of their own pictographic language.  Unlike Europeans at the time, Mayans did understand the concept of zero just as the Indians in South Asia did.

The Mayans used a yearly solar calendar that was quite precise, using 18 months and 20 days per month, which has almost the same number of days as our 365-day calendar.  The Mayans also built temples looking very similar to the ziggurats used in Mesopotamia, puzzling many historians.  The Mayans constructed a spectacular capital at [[Tikal]] and a worship center at Chichen Itza featuring the ziggurats.  For food, the Mayans grew maize (corn), squash and beans.  They also traded in stones, salt, honey and shells.  Like American Indians the Mayans had no coins or paper money, but sometimes traded in cacao (chocolate) beans.  Unlike the American Indians, the Mayans used a written language based on symbols or "glyphs", as in hieroglyphics.   

The Mayans used a yearly solar calendar that was quite precise, using 18 months and 20 days per month, which has almost the same number of days as our 365-day calendar.  The Mayans also built temples looking very similar to the ziggurats used in Mesopotamia, puzzling many historians.  The Mayans constructed a spectacular capital at [[Tikal]] and a worship center at Chichen Itza featuring the ziggurats.  For food, the Mayans grew maize (corn), squash and beans.  They also traded in stones, salt, honey and shells.  Like American Indians the Mayans had no coins or paper money, but sometimes traded in cacao (chocolate) beans.  Unlike the American Indians, the Mayans used a written language based on symbols or "glyphs", as in hieroglyphics.