There’s a saying that “Rome was not built in one day.” It means that it takes a long time to create something significant and lasting. This saying applies to the Maya.
The earliest Maya hunted animals, fished, and gathered wild berries, nuts, and seeds for food. By around 7000 B.C., these roving bands of Maya began making homes for themselves—in caves, rock shelters, and open camps. Slowly, over the next several thousand years, they began living a more settled village life. They wore animal-skin clothing and used flint-tipped spears.
As time went on, cities appeared, some populated by as many as 75,000 people. The Maya reached great heights in the arts, scientific learning, architecture, and writing. Their economy flourished and huge palaces, plazas, courtyards, and ball courts were erected. Towering temple-pyramids dotted the area.