The ancient Maya civilization originated in the Yucatán Peninsula during the Pre-Classic period between 2000 BC to 250 AD. They flourished during the Classic period from 250 AD to 900 AD before experiencing a collapse in the 8th-9th century. The Maya were known for their architecture, hieroglyphic writing system, art, advanced math and astronomy. They used cacao beans as currency, with small rabbits equivalent to 30 beans and turkey eggs equal to 3 beans. Cocoa was reserved for royalty and celebrated the Maya god of cocoa beans in April.

2. Classic period (c. 250 AD to 900 AD)

3. The Maya Collapse (c. 8th-9th Century)

4. Post-Classic Period(c. 10th-16th Century)

5. Colonial Period(c. 17th Century)Known for architecture, written language, art, math & astronomy system

6. Mayan Architecture

7. Writing System (Glyphs)

8. Mayan Art

9. Math & Astronomy

10. Mayan Religion

11. Trade & Currency Currency small rabbit = 30 cacao beans turkey egg = 3 cacao beans large tomato = 1 cacao bean Cacao reserved for royalty

12. A Mayan chief forbids a person to touch a jar of chocolate

13. EkChuah Mayan God of Cocoa Bean Celebrated in April

16. Cocoa Output http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/50/2005cocoa_bean.PNG

17. Chocolate Often said to be from Nahuatl xocolātl which would be derived from xococ "bitter" and ātl "water However, the form xocolātl is not directly attested, and chocolatl does not appear in Nahuatl until the mid-18th century. Some researchers have recently proposed that the chocol- element was originally chicol-, and referred to special wooden stick used to prepare chocolate. Kakaw ('cacao') written in the Maya script. The word was also written in several other ways in old Maya texts.