| f the Caribbean's premier vacation destinations - | | | | Spain killed all Mayan religious leaders and burned all |
| Cancun, Mexico - is a city full of pristine beaches, | | | | the books they found. The Mayans attempted to |
| waterfront resorts, and vivid nightlife. It is also a | | | | overthrow the European settlers, and a number |
| city rich with history. With its roots in ancient | | | | of their battles were a success. In the end, |
| Mayan civilization, your vacation to Cancun is | | | | however, those from Europe were eventually |
| much more than just "fun in the sun". Certainly, a | | | | victorious. |
| big part of it is about catching some waves and | | | | Despite their trials and tribulations, the Mayan |
| enjoying the dance clubs, but you can also enjoy | | | | civilization in what is now known as Cancun, along |
| the rich history of this area and learn about the | | | | with the rest of the peninsula, is rich in spectacular |
| Mayan civilizations that existed there long ago. | | | | culture and art, architecture, writing, astronomy, |
| Mexico was once home to two great Native | | | | religion, and urban design. People the world over |
| American empires. In Central Mexico, you'll find | | | | are still studying Mayan civilization in fascination. |
| remnants of an extensive Aztec civilization. Along | | | | When you're in Cancun, you may want to visit |
| the borders of Guatemala and Belize, and covering | | | | some of the ancient temples that are still standing. |
| the southern Mexico Yucatan Peninsula (where | | | | These locations just south of the city house |
| Cancun is located), you'll find an area once | | | | amazing works of art, and tours through the |
| occupied by the Mayans. Most scholars believe | | | | temples can be a highlight of your Mexican |
| that both groups stemmed from the same people | | | | vacation. These deteriorating national treasures |
| that once crossed the Bering Strait thousands of | | | | were once surrounded by Mayan cities built with |
| years ago. The earliest evidence of civilization in | | | | elaborate palaces, observatories for understanding |
| Mexico appears to be from 5000-1500 BC. | | | | astronomy, ball courts that acted as small sports |
| Mayan history can loosely be characterized into | | | | stadiums and ceremonial platforms that were |
| three time periods: Pre-Classic, Classic, and | | | | places of sacrifices. |
| Post-Classic. During the Pre-Classic time period, | | | | Some of the most famous Mayan locations on |
| there were only sparse Mayan settlements in the | | | | the Yucatan Peninsula are the following places: |
| area that is known today as Cancun. The same is | | | | Uxmal |
| true of the Classic time period. It wasn't until the | | | | Tikal (in Guatemala) |
| Post-Classic period that the Mayans migrated | | | | Chichen Itza |
| more to the northern Yucatan Peninsula, after a | | | | Tulum |
| collapse of Mayan power in the 8th century. The | | | | Altun Ha (in Belize) |
| reason for this turn of the civilization is still not | | | | The closest site to Cancun is Chichen Itza, which |
| highly understood by scholars, although some | | | | also hosts the best-restored Mayan temple. This |
| scholars believe that over-hunting, disease, | | | | site also has historical significance to the Toltec |
| nutrient exhaustion in the soil, and climate changes | | | | people, a group of ancient people who moved into |
| led to its demise. | | | | the area after a 9th century invasion. The |
| During the Post-Classic time period, there was no | | | | Mayans then re-settled in the area around the |
| central government and a number of wars were | | | | year 1000, after it was abandoned in the 10th |
| waged between different Mayan groups. By the | | | | century. Therefore, the temple at Chichen Itza |
| time the Spanish arrived, the Mayans were just a | | | | has been influenced by both groups of people. |
| shadow of the civilization they had once been. | | | | Today, there are still many Mayan descendants |
| This area of Mexico was first discovered in the | | | | living in and around Cancun. In fact, those of |
| early 1500s by accident, when a group of sailors | | | | Mayan descent run many of the tour companies |
| washed ashore after a shipwreck. War and | | | | and hotels in the area. Some of these people still |
| disease ravaged the Mayans, and by the mid | | | | speak the ancient language of Maya, and many |
| 1800s, their numbers had dwindled to less than | | | | still make traditional Mayan crafts and food. There |
| 10,000. Those living in Cancun were most | | | | is no shortage of Mayan cultural influences in |
| susceptible, and today, most descendants come | | | | Cancun, and on your next vacation, you should |
| from Mayan cities located more deeply in the | | | | consider exploration of some of the beautiful |
| jungle. Much of what we would have known about | | | | Mayan sites still around today. |
| Mayan culture was lost, as the conquerors from | | | | |