Maya Civilization
Clara zhao
Maya Civilization is an ancient civilization that shares characteristics with Mesoamerican
civilizations of 2000 BC. The Maya are known in history as the only Pre-Columbian Civilization
in the region to have a fully developed written language and a well-developed system of art and
architecture. Urban Maya was surrounded by ball courts, government buildings and pyramids.
The empire included a number of powerful cities that were ruled by elites who had their own
armies. These cities were home to a large number of people. The Maya era was advance and
made considerable contributions in the fields of astronomical and mathematical sciences. They
developed solar calendar and were able to study eclipses. The area occupied by the Maya
Civilization in the eighth century now forms the political units of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and
Honduras (Sabloff, 11). Around 600-800 AD, Maya civilization was at its peak. The city states
had powerful culture, military and supremacy. The empire had a religion that was well
developed. The flourishing trade of prestige items helped the state financially. The farmers
practiced sophisticated methods of producing food like. They practiced terracing on hillsides,
raised fields connected by canals, made gardens, and did wild harvesting to support and feed the
population.
Maya was a powerful empire when the civilization struck with a sudden collapse and the decline
lasted for almost two centuries. During eighth and ninth century, decline was reflected by the end
of architecture, massive monuments and art of the theatre states. A lot of research has been
conducted to study the declining factors of Maya rule. Multiple theories explain this decline but
none of them is universally accepted as the reason for the collapse. What could have actually
happened that could have caused the removal of one of the greatest civilizations of all times?
The theories of Maya decline speak of climatic change, epidemic disease, and environmental
destruction. Explorers discovered the ruins of lost cities in 19th century and began to imagine
natural catastrophe like volcanoes, earthquake or super storm to be responsible of the collapse.
But later studies showed that the collapse wasn’t only natural. There were human factors as well
including overpopulation, peasant revolts, foreign invasion, and week political system. There
were also some social and economic dynamics like the shifting of trade routes that undermined
the power of the state. Facing environmental changes, along with the weak state, much of the
population led their homes and cities in search of better economic opportunities at some other
places. So were Mayans themselves responsible for sketching their own fate? Most of the
contemporary research revolving around the collapse of the Maya Civilization declares climatic
and ecological changes to be the disruptive factor that led to the demise of the civilization. How
plausible is this theory and is climate change the only factor that contributed to the Maya demise,
or are there any other plausible theories that can explain the collapse of the Maya Civilization?
Various factors contributed to the downfall. Different researchers have multiple views regarding
the downfall and have comprised them in their papers. Four of them have been discussed in this
paper in detail, elaborating the source’s central idea and general content. So how far is their
research valid and is there any link between the demising factors that they have mentioned?
What essentially lead to the downfall of the Maya Civilization remains under question.
Archeologically, the classic Maya collapse is considered as one of the biggest mysteries ever
encountered.
But researchers never gave up on trying finding out what exactly happened. Their work has been
ongoing from centuries and at present; there are still many archeological sites which are being
dig and studied. The previous excavated sites are being re-examined using new advance
technology. The ancient remains of Maya civilization like temples, pyramids, calendars and
mathematical writings are too perfect that researchers find it hard to believe that such a society
collapsed. These researchers have consulted many papers, people, archeologists and other
researchers to draw their conclusions. They have tested their hypothesis with the environmental
and archeological data recorded and have given their results. The sources have been cited at the
end.
Research suggests that the number of integrative factors in the ancient Maya society was far less
than the disruptive factors. The end of monument inscriptions and decline in large-scale
architecture at urban areas was the initial indications of the fading of civilization. Its political
system collapsed or was taken over by new kind of Maya states due to internal stresses like high
labor costs, warfare, growth of elites, and some serious external factors. This disrupted the
intricate social and ecological balance that is necessary for the survival and growth of a society
(Rathje, 275-285). The writer explains that the fragmentation of classical Maya kingdoms and its
disintegration into chaos resulted in the fading of empire. “There were also some structural
problems inherent in classical Maya competitive divine kingship and status rivalry that had
brought down the south eastern countries.” The initial Maya system was highly organized and
structured. The post classic states were more economically and politically stable. There ware
linage leaders council that governed through multiple systems. A new capital, Mayapan, was
established after the destruction of Chichen Itza. It established a new system of governance with
urban population. Small temples and palaces were the principle public buildings. “Maya
kingdoms after 9th century disintegration may also have helped create the unstable, but dynamic,
political environment of the highlands in post classic.” Some large high land hegemonies
emerged from the alliances and wars of early post classic. It was a great flexible system that
made the internal shift of power possible, putting an end to traumas. But later, highland Maya
divided due to warfare and invasion by foreign groups. The elite lacked power and there was no
reconstruction of the buildings and institutions after the revolts. The magnificent monuments, art
and architecture of the Maya state swept away with its decline. The political system also
disintegrated due to the loss of these classic hallmarks which were the instruments of elite power.
There were intergroup rivalries. “In Yucatan, the centuries of warfare between the highland
states had created long-standing enmity between groups by the 16th century. The Conquistadors
were able to exploit these divisions in their subjugation of highland Maya.” So due to these
exploitations and grouping, the Maya civilization entered its phase of decline. The environmental
factors were there but people could have saved the civilization if they would have remained
united, cooperative and avoided intergroup fights.
It has been reported that the twists and turns in the human civilizations in the past have been
coupled with climatic changes. Climatic changes are considered as one of the major driving
factor in the fall of civilizations. But it was believed that the nature of climatic changes in the
Maya period was not very drastic that it could have altered the geography. However, highresolution paleoclimatic records reveal that climate change must have had an effect on the Maya
Civilization. The unusual shifts in atmospheric patterns in the end of Maya civilization especially
drought, and thin infertile tropical soils cannot be ignored in this view. The study of lake beds,
sediments and pollens has convinced scientists that the intense 200 year drought must have been
the major reason for the decline. Some think that a natural drought might have struck that was
magnified by the conversion of forest land into cropland, causing less rainfall. (Haug, 17311735). He indicates that a series of multi-year droughts helped to doom an ancient culture; Maya
civilization. “Unusual shifts in atmospheric patterns took place near the end of the Classic Maya
period, lending credence to the notion that climate, and specifically drought, indeed played a
hand in the decline of this ancient civilization.” The Mayas have to cope with long dry season
each year due to seasonal fluctuations. Large scale water collection system could not be
implemented due to the lack of surface water for 4 to 5 months of the year. “Marine sediments
from the Cariaco Basin hold considerable information about the shifts in climate that Maya
experienced.” Cariaco basin trapped sediment naturally resulting in lack of oxygen in water. This
disrupted fauna life. Through a radio carbon technique, researchers evaluated that four droughts
struck the Maya regime. The drought might have played a significant role, but unavailability of
natural water resources must also be considered, which contributed to the suffering of the
population during extended period of drought. The water reserves were also controlled by ruling
Maya elites who failed to provide sufficient water to people during rough period. Migrating to
other lands was not an option any more as drought struck the entire area. Researchers have
pointed out many reasons for the collapse, but climatic disturbance remains the central reason for
the destabilization of the Maya society. Regarding the research the author highlights, “It is
significant to discover that the history of Maya was so closely tied to the environmental
constraints. If Maya civilization could collapse under the weight of natural climate events, it is of
more than academic interest to ponder how modern society will fare in the face of an uncertain
climate in the years ahead.” A research over how ancient civilizations tackled with the changes
in climate may help the present people with important lessons during the catastrophe. So the
main reason for the failure of the empire seems to be drought and the resulting lack of water
availability. There might be other factors as well but nothing could have saved the dynasty in
such environmental constraints that made surviving in power impossible.
In eighth century, the fragmentation of classical Maya kingdoms into smaller units and its
disintegration into turmoil began in southeastern and western regions. Refugees from these areas
spread to the eastern and northern areas, contributing to rise in population. So the Maya
civilization, according to the traditional models, progressed over time in terms of population
growth and cultural complexity, ending with a dramatic collapse (Dunning, 267-283). He states
that the large depression known as bajos in the Maya lowlands transformed from perennial
wetlands and shallow lakes to swamps around 400 BC. “The transformation of bajos represents
one of the most significant and long lasting anthropogenic environmental changes” that lead to
its decline. In order to fully understand the impact of transformed bajos, multiple researches were
conducted along ancient Maya cities of La Milpa, Belize and Yaxha, Guatemala and
paleoenvironmental and archaeological data was gathered. An analysis of landscape
transformation was done for the study of social and environmental factors that represent long
lasting anthropogenic environmental changes, contributing to the rise and fall of ancient
civilizations. These were hydrologic ally stable ecosystems and were more suitable for settling.
But later these were induced by environmental changes causing the transformation of bajos.
“Gradual but irregular climatic drying ensued, with maximal dryness occurring possibly played a
significant role in the transformation of bajos from perennial to seasonal wetlands and in the
transition from the Pre-classic to Classic periods in Maya civilization.” Sedimentation occurred
in them causing trouble in uplands. This is why some Maya urban centers were abandoned in
these areas and water storage system was introduced. This also disrupted the early political
system of Classic Maya period. “One of the most notable changes occurring at that time was the
abandonment of El Mirador, Nakbe, and nearby urban centers (Hansen 1992).” These large preclassic urban centers were exposed to environment disturbance like prolonged drought,
triggering their abandonment. This lead to the fragmentation of people as they flew to other lands
as refugees under these stressful conditions. They increased the population of areas where they
went. So basically the transformation of bajos that changed the landscape was one of the reasons
that contributed to the downfall of world’s most powerful civilization of the history.
Maya collapse has many intertwined roots, which have confused the researchers for quite a long
time. For instance, the failing of crops due to droughts, deprivation of water, and later the
shifting of trade from overland routes raised other problems such as the dismissal of elite power
that depended largely on trade, and surpluses of annual crop. This in return forced craftsmen and
peasants to abandon the lowlands in order to escape starvation. So it is quite clear that all the
factors were interlinked and their combined result was catastrophic.
The collapse of the Maya civilization is also said to be the result of paloenvironmental
characteristics of Maya region in eight century (Sabloff, 1993). The demise of low lands is
described as a result of considerable transformation of the landscape due increase in population
and societal collapse which contributed to the destruction of natural habitats, excessive loss of
floral and faunal resources, and the removal of lacustrine and riverine ecosystems. The Mayas
had to cope with the changing environment and the unexpected timings and magnitude of these
changes. “The 1976 earthquake has been implicated in the subsequent rise of lake levels, shift in
basin sediments and tilting of southern shores.” The problem that researchers have faced is that
they have very less data over environmental analysis of that time. Climatic changes, the timing
and magnitude of sea levels, changing water tables, and fluctuations in atmospheric conditions
stressed the ecosystems. There were multiple agricultural technologies that changed the
topography and soil characteristics, enhancing the process of degradation but any proper
recorded data is missing. The writer’s intent was to conduct the paleolimnological research in the
Peten lakes. They did study lacustrine sediments in Maya lake but they failed to find and
compare it with another lake of same time that was not affected by Maya. Only through the
comparison was it possible to note the difference in natural changes in environment and the one
affected by human activity. There have also been population records of few areas, but no final
analysis can be done until data from all lowland habitats is present. “The study requires a
magnitude of fieldwork that is difficult to envision in the near future. The challenge is to build
into manageable small scale research the kinds of data collection strategies that will ultimately
contribute to testing of large-scale models.” Says the author. According to him, climatic and
environmental change is the most important reason for the decline as the only possibility could
be a large natural change that removed the dynasty in an unimaginable way.
But we cannot blame any one reason for the demise. There were many factors and they all were
linked. Different theories given by the researchers explain the demise of Maya civilization but
the fact is that no researcher has a clear-cut theory to explain the end of civilization. But their
research is well enough to support one of the factors of the collapse. However, it can be said that
climatic change was the major reason responsible for the end of Maya Civilization. As Jeremy
Sabloff and John Steele Henderson mention in their research that substantial change of landscape
occurred due to population increase and collapse of the society, they also point out its after
effects that are definitely the climatic changes. The huge changes in ecosystems due to
destruction of natural habitats, excessive loss of plants and animals, the irregular timings and
magnitude of sea levels, fluctuation in water tables, all contributed to the stressed environment
causing climatic change. This climatic change then resulted in adverse conditions that are
mentioned in Gerald H.Haugs’ research. He states that several unhealthy human activities
resulted in the uneven patterns of water table. Surface water was usually not available for which
large scale water collection system was required. But it could not be implemented and the poor
condition continued resulting in multi-year droughts that played a significant role in bringing the
civilization down to its fate of decline. Similarly Nicholas P. Dunning discusses in his research
that the transformation of bajos from perennial wetlands and shallow lakes to swamps also
contribute to climatic change. Bajos contained trapped sediments that blocked the excess of
oxygen to water, causing trouble of water in uplands and abandoning these areas. It was the most
prominent and long lasting environmental change. All these three researches focused on climatic
issues of that time that struck the Civilization and engulfed it. However William L. Rathje has a
bit different point of view. According to him, the fragmentation of classical Maya kingdoms into
chaos was the reason for the decline. The land divided due to warfare and invasion by foreign
groups. This disintegration could not be controlled due to other natural factors that made the
powerful leaders very week and incapable of controlling their empire. Humanely factors did exist
but they all were boosted due to strict and harsh climatic changes. Water, good weather, food and
shelter are the basic requirements of life but they all were disturbed in Maya period. Due to
changing climate, there was no water available, no fertilized land for cropping and plantation, no
reasonable weather for the survival of plants and animals and people were forced to move around
in despair, leaving them with no home at all. The living conditions became pathetic and rivalries
among people increased in order to get the possession of valuable resources. Hence this clearly
explains that climatic and environmental change was accountable for the demise of world’s
greatest civilization. The reasons that all the researchers mention molds to this one major point;
meaning that the thesis is supported by the sources. All of these details link to this one idea that
is valid enough to explain the decline.
From the above analysis it can be concluded that the demise of Maya Civilization was not
subjected to any one single factor. There were multiple factors but they all revolved around the
single point that is environmental and climatic change. However the collapse was not only
natural. Certain human activities like their grouping, elite dominance, high labor cost, foreign
invasion and week political system also played a role in changing the economic and social
structure and eating up the empire. It is even said that Mayans may have drew their own
downfall. So actually all these reasons were interlinked and had a combine effect on the
civilization. Maya was a powerful Civilization that became a target of cruel fate. It struck with a
sudden collapse, leaving researchers of all times to solve the greatest mystery of demise. A huge
amount of research has been subjected to explain the factors of Maya decline, and some of them
have been discussed above. Different theories have emerged in response but none of them can be
stated as universally accepted reason for the decline. But by analyzing the disruptive factors
mentioned in the sources’ researches, it is well enough to conclude that climatic and ecological
changes were the disruptive factors that led to the demise of the civilization. Nothing could have
saved the dynasty under such adverse climatic conditions like drought, lack of surface water,
removal of habitat, ending of flora and fauna that all lead to changes in ecological system. It
became impossible for the civilization to continue with success under these circumstances,
proving climatic change a central reason for demise; linked with other reasons as well.
References
Sabloff, Jeremy A., and John Steele Henderson. Lowland Maya Civilization in the Eighth
Century AD. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 1993.
Haug, Gerald H., et al. "Climate and the collapse of Maya civilization." Science299.5613 (2003):
1731-1735.
Rathje, William L. "The origin and development of lowland Classic Maya civilization."
American Antiquity (1971): 275-285.
Dunning, Nicholas P., et al. "Arising from the bajos: The evolution of a neo-tropical landscape
and the rise of Maya civilization." Annals of the Association of American Geographers 92.2
(2002): 267-283.