The Maya civilization extended through present-day southern Mexican states, including Guatemala, Belize and Yucatan. Carbon dating places the start of this civilization to around 2600 BC, although the most widely accepted date is 2010 BC. During the Classic era, the Mayas built a system of kingdoms and small empires. Monumental palaces and temples were constructed using human manpower. Because of their isolation from the great powers of the time oversea, the Mayans had a significant lack of technology. They had no draft animals (including horses or oxen), pulleys, wheel-based transportation, or any metal tools.
