Show paved highways in central america before columbus A thousand years before columbus discovered the new world there existed a civilization in central america that was the most advanced in the western hemisphere prior to the coming of europeans but only within the last 40 years have the achievements of the mayas been fully appreciated the civilization had reached its peak and declined before spaniards reached mexico modern archeologists archaeologists have uncovered ruins of magnificent cities chichen itza and cayapan discovered sites of palaces and temples artificial reservoirs and paved highways mayan inscriptions are now decipherable provide a written record of this great race mayan culture centered in yucatan although the mayas and az becs are believed to have a common ancestry the mayas far surpassed the people cortez conquered in mexico civil strife resulting in destruction st of their cities ended the glory of this early american people |