<human>:  When did the Maya civilization start?
<bot>: The Maya civilization started around 2000 BC and lasted until about 900 AD. The Maya civilization was centered in what is now the southern part of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. The Maya civilization had a complex society with advanced agriculture and trade, and many of the Maya built large cities. The Maya were skilled builders, and their temples and pyramids are some of the most impressive structures in the Americas.