Progress of Civilizations (04:59)

FREE PREVIEW

Profound historical changes took place between the 4th and 9th centuries. These events include the colonization of the Pacific by inhabitants; the invention of the stirrup by nomadic tribes in Asia invented the stirrup; the declaration of Christianity as the official religion of Rome; the burning of the great library of Alexandria was burnt down; and the fall of the Roman Empire, which led to the dark middle ages.

Origin of the Mayas (02:39)

Over 4,000 years ago, Maya inhabited tropical rainforests in the areas now known as El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras. They did not develop their culture based on outside life styles. They started the written history of the Americas.

Mayan Science (04:33)

Predicting the exact dates that maize could be harvested was the job of priests who were expert astronomers. The Mayas developed the solar calendar and another used for rituals and ceremonies. New temples were constructed every 52 years.

Writing (02:17)

The Mayas were the only American people who could read and write. Their writing system was composed of more than 400 symbols. Present day Mayas speak the same language as their ancestors.

Fall of the Ancient Empire (02:24)

Mayan cities were abandoned in the 9th century. The catastrophe that led to this mass exodus remains a mystery.

Credits: Mayas: Part 1 (00:41)

Credits: Mayas: Part 1