Final answer:
The Mayan civilization reached its height during the Classical era from 250 CE to 900 CE, with significant developments in mathematics, architecture, and astronomy. They constructed grand cities like Copan, Tikal, and Chichen Itza. Their decline began around 900 CE due to environmental and social factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Height of the Mayan Civilization
The Mayan civilization reached its peak during the Classical era, which lasted from around 250 CE to 900 CE. This era was marked by the construction of magnificent cities and stone pyramids in the Western Hemisphere, with notable centers in areas that are now parts of Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala. The Maya developed advanced systems of mathematics, writing, and an accurate 365-day calendar. Their impressive city-states, such as Copan, Tikal, and Chichen Itza, were interlinked with trade routes, and featured awe-inspiring temples and astronomical observatories.
Despite the decline that began around 900 CE, likely due to environmental factors and social upheavals, the Maya continued to influence the region through to the arrival of the Europeans. It is important to note that the Mayan people and their descendants are still an integral part of Central American culture today.
Among their accomplishments, the Maya also developed early symbolic writing using glyphs, and their mathematics included the concept of zero, based on a vigesimal (base-20) system. While the Mayans did not use fractions, their mathematical knowledge was sufficiently advanced to support their complex society.