E. Napp The Americas did not experience significant cultural diffusion from Europe, Africa, and Asia until 1492 A.D. The Americas experienced geographic isolation.

E. Napp As a result of isolation, there was a very limited use of writing and an absence of large animals for transportation in the Americas.

E. Napp But isolation did not prevent the rise of civilization. The Olmecs developed an early civilization between 1150 B.C. and 600 B.C.

E. Napp The Olmecs cultivated maize or corn, built large sculptures of human heads, developed a calendar, and had a writing system.

E. Napp However, classical civilization in the Americas belongs To the Mayas who lived in southern Mexico and Guatemala.

E. Napp The Mayas lived in present-day Guatemala and southern Mexico from 250 A.D. until 900 A.D. The Mayas were very advanced.

E. Napp Under difficult geographic circumstances, the Mayas farmed successfully and built beautiful cities.

E. Napp It was difficult to farm in the rain forests of Central America but the Mayas engaged in slash and burn farming.

E. Napp The Mayas developed a writing system.

E. Napp Mayan priests studied the planets and stars.

E. Napp The Mayas developed an accurate calendar.

E. Napp The Mayas developed a counting system and even invented the concept of zero.

E. Napp The Mayas lived in city-states. The city-states never united. A large temple pyramid stood in the middle of each city.

E. Napp Trade was very important to the Mayas. The Mayas traded extensively.

E. Napp But the Mayas abandoned their cities around 900 A.D. Perhaps too much fighting between the Mayan city-states led to their decline.