The Classic Maya

After Teotihuacan burned around 550, the Maya cities of the lowlands reached their peak. Tikal and the Snake kingdom of Calakmul fought a long cold war through allies.

Cities grew to tens of thousands, with pyramids, ball courts and a full writing system recording kings' deeds.

Then, between about 800 and 900, the southern cities were abandoned one after another. Drought, war and too many people for the land all played a part; the Maya lived on in the north and today.