Temple of Kukulcán at Chichen Itza | Mayan Civilization, 1000 AD

Much like the evolution of society in India, civilization in Mexico started to develop much earlier than their most well-known remnants. The Mayan civilization began on the Yucatán Peninsula in their pre-classical period which stretched from 2,000 BC to 250 AD. One of their most important cities was Chichen Itza, which grew from their Late Classic into their Postclassic period ending in 1200 AD.

There are several important structures at Chichen Itza including the Temple of a Thousand Warriors, the Grand Ballcourt and The Temple of Kukulcán otherwise known as El Castillo. This steep four-sided temple is an excellent example of the Mayan’s step pyramid architectural style and was built around 1000 AD. Like the Borobudur Temple in Indonesia, El Castillo features a small temple atop its pyramid base used to worship the Mayan god, Kukulcan. The name El Castillo was not adopted until the Spanish arrived, after which it was used as a lookout point.

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This post is part of an expanded series taken from 37 Wonders of the World in Chronological Order. You can click the link to read more, watch the video or navigate between individual posts beneath the gallery. Enjoy!

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