Collection of facts about the Maya civilization

This post is a collection of facts about the Maya civilization (c. 2000 BC - 1697 AD). There are 9 facts listed below. Source: Wikipedia

• Based in the Maya Region (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras, western El Salvador)
• Over 6 million descendants today
• First Maya cities emerged around 750 BC
• Sites at Tikal, Calakmul, Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza
• Built pyramid-temples
• Maya script writing system
• Practiced human sacrifice
• Spanish Empire colonized Mesoamerica in the 16th century
• Fall of Nojpetén (last Maya city) in 1697