60 Second Histories
What happened to the Ancient Maya?
An explorer discusses some of the reasons why the Maya civilization may have disappeared
60 Second Histories
Who were the Ancient Maya?
This short video gives an overview of the Maya people: where they originated and where they lived.
National Geographic
Ancient Maya 101 | National Geographic
With their impressive city structures and advanced astronomical understanding, the Maya civilization once dominated Mesoamerica. Learn about the Maya's influence in mathematics, how their cosmic calendars advised agricultural matters,...
Curated Video
History of Cancun Mexico
Travel back in time to discover the history of Cancun, Mexico! Long before it became a popular beach destination, this area was home to the ancient Maya civilization. In this episode, we’ll learn about the Maya people, their amazing...
60 Second Histories
Maya hieroglyphs
An explorer looks at the Ancient Maya form of writing, the hieroglyphs and a mention of the Dresden Codex
60 Second Histories
Maya building techniques
This short video explains some of the building techniques and the tools the Ancient Maya used
60 Second Histories
Maya mathematics
This short video takes a brief look at the Ancient Maya numbering system which was based on 20 rather than 10 like ours is now.
Curated Video
Did the Maya Civilization Actually Collapse?
At the start of the 9th century, the Maya civilization went through a major crisis—cities were abandoned, kings lost power, and populations dropped sharply. This period, known as the Maya collapse, wasn’t the end of the Maya people, but...
Wonderscape
Exploring Daily Life in Ancient Mayan Civilization
This video provides a detailed overview of daily life in ancient Mayan civilization. It explores the origins of the Maya, their agricultural practices, societal structure, religious beliefs, and recreational activities. The video...
The Viral Fever
Mayan Garden, Mexico: Mayan Conservation Efforts
Mayan Garden, Mexico part 1/2: This video explores the relationship between the ancient Maya civilization and the tropical rainforest they inhabited, as well as how their conservation practices have been passed down through generations....
Curated Video
Exploring the Ancient Ruins and Natural Wonders of the Yucatan Peninsula
Yucatan, Mexico:"We head to Yucatan, the land where the ancient Mayans flourished to visit its majestic pyramids and discover this ancient civilization."
Curated Video
Did Drought Doom the Maya Civilization?
A major drought hit the Maya region around 800 CE, putting serious pressure on farming and water supplies in many cities. While some scientists believe this drought helped cause the Maya collapse, others point out that many cities in...
Curated Video
War and Violence During the Maya Collapse
As the Maya civilization neared its collapse, warfare became more intense and brutal in some regions, with some cities being destroyed and elites massacred. Evidence from sites like Kiuic and Aguateca shows that violence overwhelmed...
Weird History
Life For The Average Mayan
You may have scrolled past one of their haunting, crumbling pyramids in the background of your well-traveled friend's Instagram posts. But chances are, you have no idea what everyday life was really like for the ancient Mayans. From...
The Viral Fever
Mayan Garden, Mexico: Ancient Mayan Forest Gardens
Mayan Garden, Mexico part 2/2: This video explores the sustainable agricultural practices of the Mayan descendants in Central America, specifically their use of the Milpas system to grow crops like corn, beans, and squash. It also delves...
NASA
NASA | Ancient Dry Spells Offer Clues About the Future of Drought
Ancient Meso-American civilizations of the Mayans and Aztecs likely amplified droughts in the Yucatan and southern Mexico by clearing rainforests to make room for pastures and farmland.
SciShow
Calendars, Codes & Virgins: 3 Myths About the Maya
Hank talks about the Maya, and helps dispel some myths about their historic civilization, revealing how, ultimately, they were just like us: smart, flawed, and awesome.
TMW Media
The history inside the museum of Belize
Un-Belizable! We're off on a Central American Mayan excursion on this episode of Travel Thru History! Belize City, is a popular tropical hotspot on the coast of the country of Belize. Belize is considered the heartland of the Maya...
Curated Video
How the Ilopango Eruption Altered Ancient Civlizations Across the Globe
A recent study of an ice core sample from Greenland has pinpointed the Central American Ilopango mega-eruption to 431 AD. This eruption is believed to have devastated an entire Maya region and caused global cooling that affected climates...
Curated Video
No Single Cause: The Collapse and Resilience of the Maya
The Maya collapse didn’t have one clear cause—it happened in different ways across different regions. While war, environmental stress, and power struggles all played a role, the real story is how the Maya responded by transforming their...
Curated Video
After the Collapse: A New Maya World Emerges
The Maya collapse wasn’t just a Maya event—many other major cities in Mesoamerica fell around the same time. In the Postclassic period that followed, royal power faded and many cities shifted to shared rule by noble families, trade moved...
Curated Video
Foreign Influence and Final Clues: A Changing Maya World
During the 9th century, foreign styles in art, pottery, writing, and buildings began to show up in Maya cities—especially those trying to bounce back. Some rulers even showed themselves with both Maya and foreign features, suggesting...
Curated Video
How Environmental Factors Contributed to the Maya Collapse
During the late 700s and early 800s, environmental changes began to affect Maya cities. Some of these problems may have been caused by the Maya themselves - deforestation and soil overuse may have led to food shortages and population...
Curated Video
Power Shift: How Maya Nobles Rose as Kings Lost Control
In the late 700s and early 800s, Maya nobles started gaining more power as royal authority began to weaken. At cities like Copán and Yaxchilan, nobles built their own monuments and played bigger roles in government, which had been...