Without a doubt, the Maya was one of the most ancient civilizations to settle in the Central American regions of El Petén (Guatemala) and Yucatan (Mexico), as well in neighboring areas such as Tabasco, Chiapas and Belize.

Oaxacan culture developed in the Valley of Mexico and served as the basis of the Olmec civilization,who excelled in stonework and ceramics. However, it was the Maya who attained remarkable milestones, such as the development of a hieroglyphic writing system, showcased in their striking calendar.

In addition, the Maya were highly skilled architects --among the first to build vaulted roofs-as well as refined ceramists and sculptors. Their language, Maya o Maya Kichel was spoken in vast regions throughout Central America. Maya culture attained its zenith between 300 and 900A.D.

The Zapotecs were another important civilization established in the state of Oaxaca (Mexico). The archeological ruins at Monte Alban attest to their highly developed skills as architects, sculptors and astronomers. A neighboring civilization to that of the Zapotecs was that of the Mixtecs, who inhabited the western territories of Oaxaca. The Totonac culture was, likewise, based in the Gulf of Mexico. The great civilizations that the Spanish conquistadors witnessed on their arrival in the 16th century were Teotihuacan (northeast of modern day Mexico City) and the Tarascans (in the state of Michoacan), both of which had by then been incorporated by the Aztecs into their mighty empire.

© 2001 The National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland.
All rights reserved.
Last update: May 29, 2007.
E-mail us questions, comments and suggestions.