The Mayapán Archaeological Zone is located south of the city of Mérida in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The site is not widely visited, but is open to the public for a small fee. It is historically important because it was the last big Mayan civilization thriving before the arrival of the Spanish. It was founded about 1000 AD and was part of an alliance with Chichen Itza and Uxmal before Mayapán overcame its allies and emerged as the sole ruler of the region. It was the cultural and political capital of the Yucatan during this time period, the end of the Post-Classical period, but was ultimately overthrown itself. A revolt was organized about 1440, and the ruling family was killed, and Mayapán was sacked, burned, and abandoned.
