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2000 BC Farming villages begin to form across the Maya region. -
1500 BC - The Olmec civilization develops -
1000 BC - The Maya begin to form larger settlements at places like Copan and Chalchuapa. -
700 BC - Mayan writing first starts to develop -
600 BC - Large buildings are built in the city of El Mirador. -
600 BC - The Maya begin to farm. This enables their society to support larger populations and the cities begin to grow in size.
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600 BC - The settlement at Tikal is formed. This will be one of the major cities in the Maya civilization. -
400 BC - The first Mayan calendars are carved into stone. -
300 BC - The Maya adopt the idea of a monarchy for their government. They are now ruled by kings.
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100 BC - The city-state of Teotihuacan is established in the Valley of Mexico. -
100 BC - The first pyramids are built. -
400 AD - The city-state of Teotihuacan becomes the dominant city and rules over the Maya highlands.
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560 AD - The city-state of Tikal is defeated by an alliance of other city-states.
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600 AD - The powerful city-state of Teotihuacan declines and is no longer a cultural center. -
600 AD - The city-state of Caracol becomes a major force in the land. -
900 AD - The southern lowland cities collapse and Teotihuacan is abandoned. -
925 AD - The city-state of Chichen Itza becomes the most powerful city-state in the region.
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1250 AD - After declining for years, Chichen Itza is abandoned. -
1283 AD - The city-state of Mayapan becomes the capital city of the Maya civilization. -
1441 AD - The people rebel against the rule of Mayapan. The city is abandoned by the late 1400s. -
1517 AD - The Post-classic period comes to an end with the arrival of the Spanish and conquistador Hernández de Córdoba. -
1519 AD - Hernan Cortes arrives and explores the Yucatan Peninsula.
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1541 AD - Many of the Maya city-states are conquered by the Spanish.
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1542 AD - The Spanish found the city of Merida. -
1695 AD - The ruins of Tikal are discovered by a Spanish priest who is lost in the jungle.