This History Channel documentary explains the technological achievements of the Mayan cities in present-day Guatemala, which were ultimately abandoned 1000 years ago.

Following are points the documentary makes:

— The culture was very war-like and the cities in the region frequently fought with each other.

— They built large stone pyramid temples without having access to beasts of burden or metal tools.

— It shows the labyrinth that is deep inside the interior of a large pyramid leading to the tomb of the most important Mayan king, who lived in the 600’s AD.

— It explains the “Temple of Inscriptions,” which is a technologically innovative structure built for King Pakal.

— The Mayans had an advanced system of mathematics.

— They used the “golden mean” to determine the proportions for their architecture.

— They diverted rivers of water and built water tunnels which created water pressure.

— The inhabitants likely eventually moved to the north in present-day Mexico.

— An elaborate network of roads that were built as that were as long as 60 miles.

— They had structures which were used to track the movements of the stars and the planets, as well as the progression of time.  Their structures made use of light and shadows to mark when specific days of the year arrived.

— They made use of stone columns with wooden roofs that are similar to Greek and Roman architecture.

— Once Conquistadors arrived, they battled with the Mayans, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides, and many Mayans died of disease.

— Mayans were forced to convert to Christianity, and a Spanish Friar burned massive amount of Mayan historical texts in 1562, which eased thousands of years of accumulated Mayan knowledge, with only a few surviving examples existing today.