The timeline of the Maya Civilization is often divided up into three major periods: the Pre-classic Period, the Classic Period, and the Post-classic Period.
Pre-classic Period (2000 BC to 250 AD)
The Pre-classic Period covers from the start of the Maya civilization to 250 AD when the Maya civilization began its golden age. A lot of development took place during this period. The major cities during this period were El Mirador and Kaminaljuyu.
2000 BC - Farming villages begin to form across the Maya region.
1500 BC - The Olmec civilization develops, the Maya will take on much of their culture.
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.
600 BC - The settlement at Tikal is formed. This will be one of the major cities in the Maya civilization. It will reach its peak in power during the Classic period.
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.
100 BC - The city-state of Teotihuacan is established in the Valley of Mexico. It influences the Maya culture for many years.
100 BC - The first pyramids are built.
Classic Period (250 AD to 900 AD)
The Classic Period is considered the golden age of the Maya city-states. Most of the artistic and cultural achievements of the Maya civilization took place during this period.
400 AD - The city-state of Teotihuacan becomes the dominant city and rules over the Maya highlands.
560 AD - The city-state of Tikal is defeated by an alliance of other city-states.
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. The reason for the collapse of the Maya Classic period is still a mystery to archeologists. This signals the end of the Classic period.
Post-classic Period (900 AD to 1500 AD)
Although the southern city-states collapsed, the Mayan cities in the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula continued to thrive for the next several hundred years during the Post-classic period.
925 AD - The city-state of Chichen Itza becomes the most powerful city-state in the region. It will rule for the next two hundred years.
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. The League of Mayapan is formed to rule the region.
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.
Colonial Period (1500 AD)
1519 AD - Hernan Cortes arrives and explores the Yucatan Peninsula.
1541 AD - Many of the Maya city-states are conquered by the Spanish.
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.
