What Caused the Disappearance of the Mayan Civilization Essay Example

to determine the suitability and feasibility of selected theories, offering conclusions that are as plausible as possible given the lack of concrete evidence. The paper will also explore possible reasons for the collapse of the Mayan civilization. Agriculture played a significant role in the Mayan economy, with focus on growing crops such as maize, beans, and squash. Since Mayan cities were predominantly situated in tropical forests, they employed the 'slash and burn' technique to clear land for farming.

The Mayans implemented a highly advanced agricultural method which allowed them to maintain a strong economy. However, the excessive use of this technology led to the degradation of land, rendering it nearly infertile. This, combined with the natural occurrence of droughts in the Mayan region and the drying effects caused by deforestation, is likely to have caused severe damage to the Maya civilization. The alterations in climate greatly affected agricultural sustainability due to the significant temperature and precipitation changes resulting from widespread deforestation.

Therefore, it is highly probable that the complete deforestation played a part in altering the climate, which was unfavorable to the Mayans during their pinnacle of civilization (Oglesby, Sever, Saturno, Erickson & Srikishen, 2010: 7). This is because the climate conditions determined the suitable temperature and rainfall for cultivating and harvesting crops. If the climate was adverse, it would disrupt the staple food supply, leading to starvation and sickness.

The climate was affected by deforestation and farming, leading to changes that disrupted the agricultural system. This disruption had severe consequences for society, such as famine and disease outbreaks, which could require people to relocate in order to survive. However, it is

important to note that the relationship between climate and the collapse of the Maya civilization is complex due to the diverse geological, ecological, and climatic characteristics of the region they inhabited.

The impact of a single forcing factor on climate may have varied in different parts of the Mayan region. Therefore, it cannot be solely responsible for the collapse, but can be seen as a secondary factor. (Hodell, Curtis ; Brenner, 1995: 393-394). However, this theory is supported by evidence of climatic changes in the Mayan region due to deforestation or natural climate, which contributed to agricultural disaster.

Savannas in certain areas display potential traces of grass invading the entire region due to a shortened swidden cycle caused by population pressure. This resulted in an agricultural catastrophe since the aboriginal equipment used by the Mayans was not suitable for cultivating grasslands (Cowgill, 1964: 152). It is ironic that although the Mayans employed advanced agricultural techniques, their tools were not advanced enough to align with their practices.

The lack of education and opportunities among peasants created a demographic constraint for the elite class and artisans. These privileged groups relied on the peasants for cultivation and may not have known how to make the necessary tools themselves. Despite their experience, the peasants were limited by their social status and were not allowed to experiment or innovate in different areas.

The highlight of this essay will be the significant influence of climatic changes on demographic constraints, making it the primary theory for explaining the collapse of the Mayan civilization. Around 750 AD, the Mayan civilization reached its peak, characterized by a highly complex society.

This society experienced a population explosion within a socially stratified structure. The exponential population growth resulted in scarce land and increased control of resources by the ruling class, which were also becoming scarce.

The use of this manipulative tactic indicates that there could be an increase in social discomfort, potentially resulting in peasant revolts. Conversely, the scarcity of resources may have caused a lack of advancement in farming tools. The collapse of the Mayan civilization may have been influenced by agricultural consequences (Turner, 1974: 123). This is due to the fact that "the resulting disruptions in trade and agricultural operations would encourage population migrations, which in turn would lead to the propagation of disease, excessive demands on local agricultural resources, and famine.

The theory suggests that the disruptions experienced by the Mayans, if prolonged over a century of decline, would lead to a significant decrease in both the workforce and the skilled economic leaders. This could happen even without the occurrence of catastrophic events such as droughts, hurricanes, or wars (Willey & Shimkin, 1971:13). The theory implies that the collapse of the Mayan civilization was a result of their complex society and the actions they took. Despite some exceptions, such as class division and limited education for certain individuals, the oppression of commoners and potential uprisings against the Mayan kingdom were likely factors in their downfall.

The agricultural and economic relationship suggests that the theory of demographic constraints is one of the factors leading to the collapse of the Mayan civilization. However, this theory alone cannot fully explain the collapse as it would take many years. The situation can be worsened by

warfare and invasion. This collapse happened in the southern lowlands over a span of approximately a century - from A. D. 790 to A. D. 950.

Afterwards, there was no recovery to any manifestations resembling the old levels or old standards in cultural, socio-political, or demographic dimensions" (Willey ; Shimkin, 1971: 15). However, attaining complexity came at a cost for the Mayans, as social stratification set them apart from simple societies. Given the demographic circumstances, it is not surprising that "the Late Classic hierarchy imposed an expanded building program on a weakened, undernourished population."

According to Tainter (1998: 190), the collapse of the southern Classic Maya was predictable due to the diminishing return on investment in complexity. In this theory, it can be inferred that the collapse of Mayan civilization was largely influenced by demographic constraints associated with maintaining societal control, which ironically was also the reason for their rise as a complex society. The resulting social upheaval may have led to internal revolts.

In summary, complexity played a significant role in the history of the Mayan civilization. In the early 20th century, archaeologists held the belief that the Mayans were peaceful and not warlike. However, this perception started to change when they deciphered cuneiform writing on monuments and temple walls from the 8th to 10th centuries. This led to the emergence of theories that revolve around peasant revolt, external invasion, and militarism as potential causes for the downfall of the Mayans.

From the beginning of the Lowland Maya civilization, conflict and competition were consistently present, particularly in certain regions where conflict was intensified during the Late and Terminal Classic

periods. This can be seen through the resettlement of easily defensible sites, the widespread construction of fortifications, and other evidence (Rice, 2007: 176). The tales and lineage of dynasties, battles, and conquests were emphasized in written and pictorial evidence found on monuments and temple walls, confirming the existence of endemic warfare during this time.

Despite being an essential aspect of Mayan culture, military warfare required significant time, energy, and resources. Furthermore, celebrations and ceremonies were dedicated to honoring this military effort. This theory suggests the presence of social and political animosity among neighboring Mayan villages, potentially leading to warfare. Additionally, it proposes that warfare could arise due to the depletion of resources necessary for supporting military endeavors. Consequently, this would disproportionately affect commoners and peasants rather than the ruling elite class, who maintained control over the society's resources and redistribution.

The lack of resources and starvation may have sparked the peasant revolt, ultimately leading to death or mass desertion. The theory suggests that the drought caused a chain of events, including poor harvests and starvation, resulting in the revolt of the peasants. This revolt could have weakened the control of the upper class over society, potentially leading to death or desertion as people searched for better opportunities elsewhere. It is also possible that invasion from societies outside the Mayan civilization played a role in the events described.

Evidence of Fine Paste pottery has confirmed the potential influence of foreign presence (Sabloff & Willey, 1967: 324), supporting the existence of Central Mexican identity (Sabloff & Willey, 1967: 327). Consequently, this theory of warfare and invasion gains credibility as it not only serves as

a cause for the collapse of the Mayan civilization, but also aids in comprehending demographic limitations.

The reason for defending land and agriculture was created by conflict and raiding, as this would sustain the economy (Tainter, 1988: 189). This also suggests that if there had been a successful external invasion, the Mayans would have been captured as slaves and those who could escape would have been forced to resettle in areas away from their villages. Thus, both external invasion and internal warfare would only lead to destruction and desertion, resulting in a lack of people to cultivate and contribute to the society's subsistence under the same rule.

The invasion would alter the dynamics of the occupied Mayan villages. Upon critically examining the credibility of the aforementioned theories, it becomes evident that various factors such as the natural environment, ecology, demographics, economy, society, and politics played a role in the collapse of the Mayan civilization. The climate changes were not necessarily natural; deforestation caused by expanding settlements and the need for more cultivated land had negative consequences on Mayan agriculture. This also exacerbated the issue of limited space and population growth, leading to further problems with subsistence.

The upper ruling class became more dominant over the lower common class, leading to social discomfort and internal revolts. This made the kingdom vulnerable to external invasion as the society deteriorated and lost its ability to survive independently. Among the three theories, warfare and invasion would likely be the most plausible explanation as it represents the final outcome.

Climate change and demographic constraints contributed to the pressure on the Mayan situation. However, warfare and invasion

were characterized by violent and direct confrontation. Disease could be a possible result of the demographic constraints, but previous research on theories explaining the reasons for the Mayan collapse did not find sufficient evidence. It is impossible for a single theory to fully explain the disappearance of the Mayan civilization, despite the presence of written and pictorial evidence.

Further investigation in this field is likely to yield a comprehensive theory that explains the ultimate decline of Mayan civilization. This theory would incorporate natural environmental, ecological, demographic, economic, social, and political factors to demonstrate that the collapse of the Mayan civilization was not a sudden occurrence but rather a complex process. Alternatively, it is possible that the Mayan civilization fragmented and evolved into smaller, more intricate civilizations in different regions after abandoning their villages and resettling elsewhere. These possibilities offer a solid foundation for future research.