The collapse of Mayan Civilization:

Introduction:

The traces of Mayan civilization are found in the Central America. Mayan Civilization is full of
mystery an mystery due to which it has always been a center of people’s interest and focus.
Mayan Civilization is being considered to be evolved and then extinct from a period of 1800 BC
to 300 BC (which includes Pre-classic Mayan civilization and Post-classic Maya civilization) at
Yucatan, which now comes under the jurisdiction of Mexico nowadays. The famous Maya Script
is also on linked with the Mayan Civilization. Maya Script is the oldest document written artifact
from the Mesoamerican era which is being deciphered and translated in the readable form
(Aimers 2007). Therefore, there’s no denial in the historical and archeological significance of
Mayan Civilization.

To explore the factual reasons and scientific prospects behind the diminishing of Mayan
civilization, many scientist and archaeologists have presented their theories in the light of
available information. These theories revolve around many different concepts. However, two
major aspects that are widely agreed upon are Environmental Discourse and Social Degradation.
In the past ten years alone, more than 400 articles, chapters, and books have been published
related to the Mayan Civilization, and it's destructive (Aimers 2007). In the following essay, we
will discuss in detail the Environmental discourse behind the elimination of Mayan civilization.
Further, we’ll analyze the myths and realities of the Mayan Civilization in the light of the work
done previously by the archaeologists and researcher to provide a conclusive evaluation of it.

Environmental Factors:

Before we analyze the detailed factual analyses, it’s important to realize that the destruction of
Mayan Civilization entirely due to certain climatic or natural disaster and environmental
disruption is just a myth. The environmental catastrophe did shatter the roots of Mayan
Civilization, however; it wasn’t completely eradicated from the face of the Earth (Middleton,
2012). Those environmental factors are discussed below. Though the famous argument is being
denied by the facts and ancient artifacts being collected, yet the general public tends to know
singular aspect only. Due to environmental and ecological disruption, many of the temples and
low land sites were collapsed, however; the entire Mayan Civilization didn’t eradicate due to it.
As an aftermath, the Mayan tradition kept on continuing, and more sites and temples were built.
Therefore, in the light of artifacts and archeological data, Mayan civilization never ended
because of environmental disruptions and disasters. Though there are civilizations which
completely wiped out due to environmental degradation and ecological changes such as Northern
Mesopotamia, Tiwanaku and Ecocide issues of Greenland Norse and Palatial Catastrophe are all
examples of Environmental degradations which collapsed civilizations (Aimers 2007).

The Mayan Civilization is better studied by dividing it into two different eras, classic period and
post-classic period. During the classical period, the Mayan civilization grew and revolutionized
through the wisdom and eye-catching sites which remains are still visible. Maya script was part
of the similar era. However, in the post-classical period, the crumbling demise of Mayan
Civilization began due to both socio-political disputes and climatic catastrophes, and now only
its remains and certain archaeological artifacts are being left.

Neo-determinism:

Mayan civilization could’ve faced adversely serious environmental disruption due to inconstant
climatic changes in the region. In the past, such abrupt climatic change often resulted in
enhanced complexity and survival issues for the civilizations (Aimers 2007). Back I the date, the
statistical record of climate wasn’t available, therefore; the future environmental disruptions
were not being able to be predicted with keen precision or accuracy. Some theories suggest that
due to abrupt environmental changes, the mass immigration of people of Mayan Civilization is
also possible; however, this theory has no support of available artifacts and Mayan remains. The
more favorable theory relates to the phenomena that the Mayan civilization didn’t adapt to
changing climatic disruptions thus resulting in a cultural change of Mayan people (Middleton,
2012). This makes the scenario more complex and diversified, as the climatic changes have a
different effect upon the basis of regional differences and altitude impacts on a micro scale.
Therefore, while studying the environmental side of collapsing fate of Mayan Civilization, the
cause and effect of abrupt environmental changes and cultural evolution must be kept in mind.

Ecocide:

The term Ecocide refers to the ecological phenomena and reasons for human extinction. The
inadaptability of human beings to their surroundings results in environmental degradation. This
ecocide further disturbs the environmental ecosystem, eventually resulting in issues such as soil
erosion and lack of agricultural land. Ecocide is best defined as the self-destruction of human
generation. According to the theories in the light of historical artifacts, Mayan civilization didn’t
give keen importance to their ecosystem and surroundings which eventually resulted in the
degradation of their society. The example of Rapa Nui can be correlated with the fate of Mayan
civilization, as it faced severe ecocide effects in the form of soil erosion in deforestation. The
ecological system tries to neutralize back to its natural state, therefore resulted in climatic
disorders (Middleton, 2012).

Neo-catastrophism:

Neo-catastrophism is the natural calamity that struck nations and civilizations so hard that
they’re forced to wipe out from the face of Earth due to the unavoidable climatically changed
ecosystem of the geographical region. Such factors might include volcanic activity in the region,
regions struck by famine, plagues, and epidemics. According to the statistics, Earthquake,
environmental storms, and droughts are being considered to be the most fatal and disastrous
cause of the mass destruction of human beings. The catastrophe itself has three distinguishing
factors; by these factors, the amplitude of a catastrophe is analyzed. Those factors are Duration
of Catastrophe, Area affected by the Catastrophe and lastly, the society (its ideologies,
ecosystem, and values) affected by the catastrophic event. It is important to link these
catastrophes with the possibilities of extinction of Mayan Civilization (Aimers 2007). It’s
noteworthy that due to these catastrophes, never the entire civilization was wiped out. However,
following such drastic events, the reaction of societies because of the ideological perception of
communities is crucial. One of the most suitable examples that can explain the extinction of
Mayan civilization is through the historical knowledge of Greek and Sparta. Both the
civilizations were struck badly due to environmental calamity, however; this wasn’t enough to
wipe them out. Instead, these events gave an opportunity to the opposition and counter-civilized
ideas which eventually revolted and resulted in the social destruction of their civilizations
(Middleton, 2012). Similarly, for the Mayan civilization, catastrophic reasons were not alone the
reason for its destruction.

Ending Comments:

Environmental degradation was one of the most influential elements in the demise of Mayan
civilization, however; in the light of above discussion and researcher’s previous work, we can
conclude that regarding Environmental factors alone responsible for the collapsing Mayan
Civilization is not true. The social and political factors are of supreme importance as well in this
context. Many other factors could’ve influenced the Mayan civilization into destruction, such as;
ideological crisis, nutritional issues, war disputes and population crisis, for example, dispersing
people away from their native roots. However, no final verdict can be given regarding the
collapsing faith of Mayan Civilization (Aimers 2007). All the research done is just a step closer
to present the most possible and realistic conclusion to Mayan Civilization’s outcome in the light
of Mayan sites that are representatives of their cultural heritage and civilization along with
archaeological data available or artifacts.
References:

Aimers, J. J. (2007). What Maya collapse? Terminal classic variation in the Maya lowlands. Journal of
archaeological research, 15(4), 329-377.

Middleton, G. D. (2012). Nothing lasts forever: Environmental discourses on the collapse of past
societies. Journal of Archaeological Research, 20(3), 257-307.