Tikal, which means Place of Voices lies in the rainforest in the north of Guatemala in a region known as Petén. Tikal might have been the original name for the city, although the hieroglyphs usually refer to the city as Mutal or Yax Mutal, which means Great (Green) Bundle. The city reached it's peak in the 7th century when it had a population from over 60,000 inhabitants.

The city is divided into what are nowadays called the four acropoli: North Acropolis, The Central Acropolis, The South Acropolis and the East Acropolis. In the North Acropolis evidence has been found of the first settlers who came to the area around 800 B.C. The area became the most important burial site of Tikal from the 1st century A.D. till about 550 B.C. Temple 33 is found here. The Central Acropolis was the place where the members of the royal family lived. There are some 45 buildings and the 6 courtyards in this area are surrounded by two and three story palaces. Many of these palaces were used as residences, as many of the chambers still display built-in beds of rock, over which skins and mats were placed to make comfortable beddings. The Mahler Palace and the Five Story Palace are the most outstanding buildings in the complex. South of these was Tikal’s main water reservoir, dividing the Central and South Acropoli. Little has been revealed yet of the Southern Acropolis but it is assumed by archaeologists that this place is very old. The Eastern Acropolis still holds a lot of secrets. It is believed to have been the bathing (steam baths) and main market area of Tikal. Archaeologists have reason to believe that this area also housed one of the ballcourts of the city.
[Overview by ChanChan Tupac]

One of the earliest Maya cities of the Peten Region, Tikal's origins can be found reaching back into the Preclassic Period. Even at this early date Tikal was a city of some significance that was already embarked on expansion and massive building projects. It was during this period that several of its architectural landmarks were constructed, including superimposed layers of the North Acropolis. The Classic dynasty of Tikal is traced to a founding king by the name of Yax Ehb' Xook who possibly ruled sometime around 90 ce. Unfortunately, there isn't much information on him or his successors and the next mention of a king of Tikal isn't until 292. The male line seems to continue unbroken until 317 when a K'atun-ending was overseen by a queen of Tikal, Lady Une' B'alam. The best known of the Tikal kings is Chak Tok Ich'aak - it was during his reign that Tikal reached one of its pinnacles of power, becoming the largest and most progressive of the new Classic Maya cities. There is evidence that Tikal engaged in trade with not only other Maya cities, but also with Mexico and the city of Teotihuacan - a city that was to have great impact over Tikal.

In what has been termed "the entrada of 378", Tikal's congenial relationship with Teotihuacan took a dramatic turn and the city became the focus of a hostile attack from the Mexican city. Under the patronage of the Teotihuacano king, Spearthrower Owl, his general Siyah K'ak arrived in Tikal on January 31st, 378 and accordingly, Chak Tok Ich'aak 'entered the water' - signally the demise of not only that king, but his entire lineage. The new king, Yax Nuun Ayiin I - a son of Spearthrower Owl, was installed on the Tikal throne in 379, probably no more than a child at the time. This new Teotihuacano dynasty was to rule Tikal for approximately 183 years before its demise at the hands of Sky Witness, the king of Kalak'mul. The defeat of Tikal at the hands of Kalak'mul was to have far reaching effects - ending Tikal's mastery of the Peten and spiraling them into a 'dark age'.

The Hiatus Period is the term given to the 130 year 'dark age' of Tikal - a period from which not a single dated monument has been located. Kalak'mul's military humbling of Tikal initiated this span of years, but there is also the possibility that factors in Mexico contributed to it as well. Within this same time frame the great city of Teotihuacan fell and there is the possibility of an economic depression not only in Mexico, but also reacing into the Maya lands. Four kings are attested to during this silent period of Tikal, the first three leaving very little record barring a possible dynastic war. Around 648 B'alaj Chan K'awiil, a noble claiming descent from a Tikal king, broke away and founded the city of Dos Pilas - setting it up as a rival Tikal state and claiming himself the yajaw of Kalak'mul. The reign of the last king of the Hiatus Period, Nuun Ujol Chaak, is liberally sprinkled with wars with both Kalak'mul and Dos Pilas, a no-win situation that didn't cease until his son's reign.

Under the kingship of Jasaw Chan K'awiil I, the son of Nuun Ujol Chaak, Tikal saw a reversal in their fortunes and in an attack on Kalak'mul on August 5th, 695 he won a decisive victory over Tikal's long-time rival. It was a time of revitalization for the city and Jasaw Chan K'awiil used the celebration of Tikal's victory over Kalak'mul to connect his reign with that of the Teotihuacano kings - evoking a comparison between that powerful dynasty and his own. Under Jasaw Chan K'awiil, Tikal became a preeminent city once again and a force to be reckoned with, but that scope was limited and the city's direct influence on other kingdoms was minimal. Building on his father's foundations, Yik'in Chan K'awiil became one of Tikal's greatest builders and military heroes - obtaining several victories over nearby kingdoms and expanding Tikal's political reach.

The final decline of Tikal's fortunes stem from the Terminal Classic Period, more specifically from the 9th century. There are signs of reduced population levels and disappearing dynasties across the entire Peten region and Tikal was not exempt from these changes. There are four final Tikal kings during this period, but very little record of any of them. The last king of Tikal, Jasaw Chan K'awiil II, seems to have attempted to reestablish royal power and he is mentioned at Seibel, but the political climate was now dramatically transformed and the last mention of this king is from a stela erected in 889 at Uaxactun. While it does contain his name, it is uncertain if he still represented Tikal's overlordship or was merely a namesake.