Where did the Mayan Empire Flourish?

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The Mayan Empire, comprised of the Maya Indians, flourished in southern Mexico and Central America from about 250 AD to the 900s. They built cities of stone with richly decorated palaces, temples, pyramids and observatories. They were also skilled in astronomy and mathematics and had an advanced kind of writing. Their lives were controlled by religion and they had a number of gods. But, amazingly, the great Mayan cities were abandoned in the 900s for reasons unknown. 

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