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The Maya are known for keeping accurate calendars. They have three of them-a solar, divine, and astronomical calendar.
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Tikal, El Mirador, and other communities in the southern lowland region begin to develop.
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Originally a simple village with thatch huts, Cerros, along the Belize coast, starts building a pyramid temple. It is two-tiered with a temple of three rooms at the top.
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.The Maya use stelae carvings to write the histories of their rulers. The earliest known stela is at Tikal, dated from AD 292. Scroll Ahau Jaguar is ruler around this time. Cities now have temples overlooking main plazas.
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.The Maya villages grow into large cities with temples, palaces, and roads. There are now nobles and priests, as well as farmers. A middle class forms with traders, artisans, and officials. Astronomy, writing, and calendars are perfected.
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Copan in southern Guatemala starts developing. King Yax-Kuk-Mo oversees the city's first major temple. Smoke-Jaguar begins ruling in AD 630. His 67-year reign ushers in a large period of growth.
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.The people of Copan leave in AD 822 and Tikal does the same in AD 869. No one knows exactly why the cities in the southern lowlands start to decline. No more writings are found which could mean problems in the religious and ruling classes.
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Hunac Ceel becomes king and makes Mayapan his capital. He conquers his rivals and starts the Cocom dynasty, who rule the Yucatan for about 250 years.
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A revolt overthrows the Cocom of Mayapan. Cities in the north are abandoned. The Maya state has ended. Local chiefs now rule.
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Some of the southern lowland people make their way to the Yucatan Peninsula. About AD 987 the Toltecs from Central Mexico invade the area. Their influence is shown in buildings and traditions.
