Maya culture, originating in Mesoamerica, is known for its advanced civilization that flourished from around 2000 BCE to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The Maya developed a complex society with impressive achievements in architecture, mathematics, and astronomy. They built grand cities like Tikal and Palenque, featuring pyramids and temples, and created a sophisticated writing system known as Maya hieroglyphics. The Maya were also skilled farmers, cultivating crops such as maize, beans, and squash. Their religious beliefs were deeply intertwined with nature, leading to the worship of various deities. The Maya calendar, which included the Tzolk'in and Haab', reflects their understanding of time and cycles in the natural world.