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Maya civilization |
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The history of Maya civilization is divided into three principal periods: the Preclassic, Classic and Postclassic periods;[1] these were preceded by the Archaic Period, which saw the first settled villages and early developments in agriculture.[2] Modern scholars regard these periods as arbitrary divisions of chronology of the Maya civilization, rather than indicative of cultural evolution or decadence.[3] Definitions of the start and end dates of period spans can vary by as much as a century, depending on the author.[4] The Preclassic lasted from approximately 3000 BC to approximately 250 AD; this was followed by the Classic, from 250 AD to roughly 950 AD, then by the Postclassic, from 950 AD to the middle of the 16th century.[5] Each period is further subdivided:
Period | Division | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Archaic | 8000–2000 BC[6] | ||
Preclassic | Early Preclassic | 2000–1000 BC | |
Middle Preclassic | Early Middle Preclassic | 1000–600 BC | |
Late Middle Preclassic | 600–350 BC | ||
Late Preclassic | Early Late Preclassic | 350–1 BC | |
Late Late Preclassic | 1 BC – AD 159 | ||
Terminal Preclassic | AD 159–250 | ||
Classic | Early Classic | AD 250–550 | |
Late Classic | AD 550–830 | ||
Terminal Classic | AD 830–950 | ||
Postclassic | Early Postclassic | AD 950–1200 | |
Late Postclassic | AD 1200–1539 | ||
Contact period | AD 1511–1697[7] |
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