Final answer:
During the early period of the Mayan civilization, they lived in a system of city-states.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mayan civilization in its early period lived in a system of city-states. By 250 BCE, a handful of powerful Maya city-states had emerged, such as Tikal, Calakmul, and El Mirador. These city-states functioned through a religious hierarchy and made advancements in areas such as mathematics, astronomy, engineering, and architecture.