The indigenous people of Mexico and Central America who developed one of the greatest ancient civilizations, known for mathematics, astronomy, and writing.
From Spanish 'Maya,' possibly from 'Mayab' (the Yucatan Peninsula in their language) or from the Nahuatl word for the region. The term became standard in European languages through Spanish colonization.
The Mayan civilization invented the concept of zero independently from Old World mathematicians—and they used it for astronomy so precise they calculated the solar year to within 17 seconds of modern measurements!
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