*Location and Geography*
1. *Yucatan Peninsula*: Tulum is located on the Caribbean coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
2. *Coordinates*: 20°12′53′′ N, 87°25′44′′ O
3. *Altitude*: 12 meters above sea level
4. *Climate*: Humid tropical with average temperatures of 24°C
5. *Vegetation*: Tropical forest with trees such as ceibas, zapotes and palm trees
6. *Coast*: White sand beaches and coral reefs
7. * Nearby rivers*: Tulum River and Sian Ka'an River
*Ancient History*
1. *Foundation*: 13th century A.D. by the Mayan Itzas
2. *Name*: "Tulum" means "wall" or "fortress" in Mayan
3. *Golden age*: 13th-15th centuries AD, commercial and religious center
4. *Population*: Approximately 1,000-3,000 inhabitants
5. *Activities*: Commerce, fishing, agriculture and religious rituals
6. *Social organization*: Social classes: nobles, priests, artisans and peasants
7. *Religion*: Polytheist, they worshiped gods like Kukulcán, Chaac and Ah Puch
*Historical Periods*
1. *Preclassic Period (2000 BC-250 A.D.) *: Early Mayan settlements
2. *Classic Period (250-900 A.D.) *: Development of Mayan city-states
3. *Postclassical Period (900-1521 A.D.) *: Maya-toltec domain in Tulum
4. *Spanish conquest (1521)*: End of Mayan rule
5. *Colonial (1521-1821)*: Spanish domain
6. *Independence (1821)*: Tulum integrates into Mexico
*Discovery and Rediscovery*
1. *Spanish discovery (1518)*: Juan de Grijalva
2. *Explorations (19th century)*: John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood
3. *Restoration (20th century)*: Archaeological projects and conservation
4. *World Heritage Declaration (1996)*: UNESCO
*Cultural Importance*
1. *World Heritage Site (UNESCO, 1996)*
2. *Mexico's most visited archaeological site*
3. *Mayan cultural richness*: Architecture, art, traditions
4. *Symbolism*: Tulum represents the connection between the Mayan civilization and nature
5. *Influence*: Tulum influenced Mayan culture and other Mesoamerican peoples
*Sources*
1. "Tulum: Official Guide" (Secretariat of Culture of Mexico)
2. "The Mayan Civilization" (René Millon)
3. "Tulum: History and Archaeology" (INAH)
4. "The Mayan World" (UNESCO)
5. National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH)
6. Government of the State of Quintana Roo.
