The Maya, an ancient people lived in Mesoamerica, on the Yucatan Peninsula and Central America. Their civilization spanned 3,000 years and at its peak was larger than the Roman Empire. One of the great accomplishments of the Mayan people was Cycle of the Galactic year. The galactic year is calculated by the time it takes the earth to circle our galactic center. The cycle begins on the plane of the Milky Way galaxy. The time it takes for our Sun’s orbit to cross the dense part of the galactic plane is what constitutes a galactic year.
Called the processional orbit of galactic core and in astrological terms the Procession of the Equinox. This processional cycle takes 26,625 years and is a time of physical and magnetic change for earth. The Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians and ancient Greeks knew this Great Year but lacked a point at which it began or ended. Through the ages the knowledge was lost.
The Mayan calendar breaks the total 26,625-year cycle down into sub-cycles each comprised of 5,125 years. These sub-cycles are called ‘ages.’ They attached different spiritual and social events to the turning of the ages. Amazingly, they did this without computers and telescopes. Modern science did not catch up with some of their measurements till the 1990s.
The Mayan calendar is actually a system of calendars. When used collectively they determine a number of cycles. The Tzolk'in calendar has 260 days which was the ritual year. The Haab' calendar has 365 days which was the solar year. Used together they form a cycle of 52 Haabs before they align.
A longer calendar, the Long Count (or World Time), was based on the beginning of the world according to Mayan mythology in a full cycle of 5125.36 year cycles and provides accurate dates when used in conjunction with positions of the other calendars. The conclusion of all calendars made by the Mayans ends on December 21, 2012.
After that date, there is no data provided by the Mayans, no predictions for the future. It is the beginning of a new Cycle of Ages.