-
2000 BCE
mayas pre clasic period (2000 BC to 250 AD)
Farming villages begin to form across the Maya region. -
1500 BCE
mayas
The Olmec civilization develops; the Maya will take on much of their culture. -
1000 BCE
mayas
The Maya begin to form larger settlements at places like Copan and Chalchuapa. -
750 BCE
mayas
The first Maya cities developed -
250 BCE
mayas
First inscription in Mayan hieroglyphs -
100 BCE
mayas
First city states appear -
219
mayas
King Yax Moch Xok is first King of Tikal -
250
mayas classic period (250 AD to 900 AD)
-
292
mayas
First stelae carving at Tikal -
420
mayas
Growth of city of Copan under Yax K’uk Mo -
615
mayas
Rule of King Pakal of Palenque (615-683) -
800
mayas
City of Tikal has up to 100,000 residents -
800
mayas
Building of stepped pyramid of Chichen-Itza ( 800-900 ) -
822
mayas
City of Copan deserted -
869
mayas
City of Tikal abandoned -
900
mayas post-classic period (900 AD to 1500 AD)
-
909
mayas
Last recorded inscription of classic Maya. -
925
mayas
The city-state of Chichen Itza becomes the most powerful city-state in the region. It will rule for the next two hundred years. -
1250
mayas
After declining for years, Chichen Itza is abandoned. -
1283
mayas
The city-state of Mayapan becomes the capital city of the Maya civilization. The League of Mayapan is formed to rule the region. -
1441
mayas
The people rebel against the rule of Mayapan. The city is abandoned by the late 1400s -
1500
mayas Colonial Period (1500 AD)
-
1519
mayas
Hernan Cortes arrives and explores the Yucatan Peninsula -
1541
mayas
Many of the Maya city-states are conquered by the Spanish -
1542
mayas
The Spanish found the city of Merida. -
mayas
The ruins of Tikal are discovered by a Spanish priest who is lost in the jungle.