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The Archaic Period in Mesoamerica during which hunter-gatherer culture moved toward agriculture.
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The Olmec Period which saw the rise of the Olmec culture's work in stone, first major cities appear.
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Tomb of Mayan King K'utz Chman of Retalhuleu constructed in Guatemala. -
The Teotihuacan Period in which the city of Teotihuacan dominates as an important religious and cultural center.
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The El Tajin Period, so named for the great city of El Tajin. Urban centers proliferate and the game of Pok-a-Tok is developed.
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The Classic Maya Period which saw the height of the Maya Civilization in cities such as Chichen Itza, Palenque, Tikal, Copan and Uxmal.
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Traditional Maya founding date of Yaxchilan. -
Reign of the first named Copan ruler K'inich Yax K'uk Mo.
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The Post-Classic Period in which the cities were abandoned and the region was invaded by the Spanish conquerors.
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The Battle of Utatlan in which the last Maya resistance is crushed by the conquistador Pedro de Alvarado. Traditional date of the end of the Maya Civilization. -
Diego de Landa, Bishop of the Yucatan, burns the books and images of the Maya outside the church at Mani. -
The Maya civilization is discovered by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood who explore and document the ruins.