The first thing I think of or most people think of when they hear the word Mayan, is how they think the Mayans believed the world would end on December 21, 2012. From research, though , you discover that this is not the case at all. And the Mayans did not believe that this was just a new age theory at all. The Mayans have such a rich culture and have so much history behind them. The Mayan ethnic group is one of the first developed civilizations. They are a native Mesoamerican people founded in 250 AD The Maya flourished until around 900 AD, most say their downfall occurred after the Spanish conquest. Some aspects, however, are still alive especially in the Mayan Indians of Mexico and Central America. The first 650 years scholars call the "classic period" and there were over 40 Mayan cities throughout Mexico, Guatemala and, especially, northern Belize. However, no one is completely sure why the decline occurred after 900 AD, but most suspect it was due to destruction and dispersal due to wars. The Mayan culture is fascinating. Three aspects that I think are important and that more people should know and learn about are their spiritual beliefs, their language and their economy. The Mayans are an amazing culture but I find their beliefs are really what makes them fascinating. The Mayans believe in polytheism which is the belief in or worship of more than one god. Their beliefs involve something more though, their beliefs involve astronomy, divination, human sacrifice (in the past), elaborate burial services and pyramid worship. After 900 AD, due to the Spanish conquest, most converted to Roman Catholicism, but retained some Mayan practices such as Mayan cosmology, deities, and domestic rituals. There's not much... middle of the paper... depth, it's amazing the facts I've discovered about them and how they became the culture they are. Their beliefs are the most fascinating to me precisely because they are so unique compared to other cultures and they made me discover the truth that the way most Americans believe they think the world would end is not true and in reality Maya thought so. Don't think the world was about to end. Now I know that I am much more than that. I hope they can survive and continue a culture that has existed for centuries making it incredibly historic and culturally rich. I hope that one day I will be able to visit the Mayan culture because it would be fascinating to see this diversity in person and enrich myself in a different culture which I believe is one of the most interesting I have learned about. The Mayans are an amazing culture that others should know about too.