What do you think the greatest achievement of the Maya was?  Be sure to explain why

The greatest achievement of the Maya civilization is arguably their development of a complex writing system. The Maya script, also known as Maya glyphs or Maya hieroglyphs, is the only Mesoamerican writing system that has been substantially deciphered.

Here's why this is significant:

1. Preservation of History and Culture: The Maya script was used to record historical events, astronomical observations, and religious texts. This has allowed modern scholars to gain a deep understanding of Maya society, culture, and knowledge.

2. Complexity and Sophistication: The Maya script is a logosyllabic system, which means it uses symbols to represent both sounds (like an alphabet) and whole words (like Chinese characters). This level of complexity and sophistication is rare among world writing systems.

3. Influence on Other Cultures: The Maya script influenced other Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Aztec and Mixtec. This shows the cultural and intellectual influence of the Maya civilization.

4. Survival Against Odds: Despite attempts by Spanish colonizers to eradicate the Maya script, it survived in some form until the late 17th century. Some Maya communities continue to use a form of the script today, which is a testament to its resilience and adaptability.

In conclusion, the development of a complex writing system is a remarkable achievement that reflects the intellectual prowess, creativity, and resilience of the Maya civilization.