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Farming villages begin to form across the Maya region. -
The Olmec civilization develops; the Maya will take on much of their culture. -
The Maya begin to form larger settlements at places like Copan and Chalchuapa. -
The first Maya cities developed -
First inscription in Mayan hieroglyphs
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First city states appear
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King Yax Moch Xok is first King of Tikal -
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First stelae carving at Tikal -
Growth of city of Copan under Yax K’uk Mo -
Rule of King Pakal of Palenque (615-683)
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City of Tikal has up to 100,000 residents
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Building of stepped pyramid of Chichen-Itza ( 800-900 ) -
City of Copan deserted -
City of Tikal abandoned -
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Last recorded inscription of classic Maya.
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The city-state of Chichen Itza becomes the most powerful city-state in the region. It will rule for the next two hundred years.
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After declining for years, Chichen Itza is abandoned. -
The city-state of Mayapan becomes the capital city of the Maya civilization. The League of Mayapan is formed to rule the region. -
The people rebel against the rule of Mayapan. The city is abandoned by the late 1400s -
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Hernan Cortes arrives and explores the Yucatan Peninsula
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Many of the Maya city-states are conquered by the Spanish
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The Spanish found the city of Merida. -
The ruins of Tikal are discovered by a Spanish priest who is lost in the jungle.