The Mayans were located in the Maya Region, which today includes southeastern Mexico (covering the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatán), all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western portions of Honduras and El Salvador. Their territory covered about a third of Mesoamerica and extended through varied geographic zones like the southern highlands of Guatemala, the tropical lowlands of the Yucatán Peninsula, and northern Central America. This region consists of diverse landscapes including low- lying limestone plains, dense rainforests, and volcanic highland areas. The Mayan civilization thrived in these areas, building cities such as Tikal, Palenque, Copán, and Chichen Itza. They were situated in an area that is now considered part of both southern Mexico and northern Central America, with cultural and trade connections to neighboring peoples and regions.