The Maya civilization was a Mesoamerican civilization that flourished in the region encompassing present-day southeastern Mexico, all of Guatemala and Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. They are well-known for their advanced achievements in architecture, art, mathematics, astronomy, and writing system (hieroglyphic script). The Maya civilization reached its peak during the Classic period (around 250 AD to 900 AD), during which time they built remarkable cities with impressive structures like pyramids, temples, palaces, and observatories. They also developed a complex social and political system, including city-states ruled by kings.

The Maya are also notable for their sophisticated calendar systems, particularly the Long Count calendar, which was used for tracking longer periods of time. They had a deep understanding of astronomy and were able to accurately predict celestial events such as eclipses.

Despite their achievements, the Maya civilization went into decline around the 9th century AD, and many of their cities were abandoned. The reasons for this decline are still debated among historians and archaeologists, but factors such as environmental degradation, warfare, and political instability likely played a role. However, many aspects of Maya culture and knowledge persisted among the Maya people and their descendants, who still inhabit the region today.