The Maya civilization habited a vast region known as Mesoamerica, the territory now comprised of five southeastern states

of Mexico that are, Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatan and Central America, in the current territories of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, with a history of about 3,000 years. During this long time in this territory hundreds of dialects spoken today generate about 44 different Mayan languages. Speaking of the "Ancient Maya" is referring to the history of one of the most important pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, as its scientific and astronomical legacy is global. Contrary to widespread belief, the Maya never "disappeared". At least, not completely, as their descendants still live in the region and many of them speak any of the languages of the Mayan family. Maya literature illustrates the life of this culture. Works like the Rabinal Achi, the Popol Vuh, the various books of Chilam Balam, are proof of that. What it was destroyed by the conquest is the model of civilization that until the arrival of the first Spanish, had generated three millennia of history. The Spanish conquest of the Maya was consummated until 1697, with the taking of Tayasal, capital of the Maya Itza and Zacpetn, capital of the Maya in the Peten Ko'woj (now Guatemala). The last Maya state disappeared when the Mexican government of Porfirio Diaz in 1901 occupied their capital, Chan Santa Cruz, thus ending the so-called Caste War. The Mayans were large and impressive buildings from the Middle Preclassic and cities as Nakb, El Mirador, San Bartolo, Cival, located in the Mirador Basin in northern Petn, and during the Classic, the well known cities of Tikal, Quirigua (both the first to be declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1979 and 1981 respectively) Palenque, Copan, Rio Azul, Calakmul, Comalcalco (built of brick) and Ceibal Cancun Machaquil, Dos Pilas, Uaxactun, Altun Ha, Piedras Negras and many other places in the area. It can be classified as an empire, but do not know if at the time of colonization imposed their culture or was a result of your organization in independent city-states were the basis of agriculture and trade. The most notable monuments are the pyramids they built in their religious centers, together with the palaces of their rulers and palaces, places of government and residence of the nobles, the largest found so far Cancun, in southern Petn, many of whose structures were decorated with wall paintings and stucco decorations. Other important archaeological remains include the carved stone slabs usually called stelae (the Maya called them Tetun, or "three stones"), which depict ruler along with logographic texts describing their genealogy, military victories and other achievements. The Mayan pottery is classified as the most varied, fine and elaborate the ancient world. The Maya participated in long distance trade in Mesoamerica and possibly beyond. Among the trade goods, jade, cacao, corn, salt, and obsidian.