MAYA EMPIRE
IN its heyday, the Maya civilisation spanned five countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. The civilisation flourished for some 3000 years. Famous for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems, the sophisticated civilisation left behind an astonishing number of impressive buildings including stepped pyramids, temples and palaces. However, the decline of Mayan civilisation is one of history’s great mysteries. Dozens of theories have attempted to explain the Mayan decline, from epidemic diseases to foreign invasion. The latest includes the possibility of severe droughts that could have led to famine and unrest among the Mayan people.