What Take Place to Maya?

The civilization of Maya was the Mesoamerican civilization which was placed in Central America. Maya civilizations beginnings have dated back to 2nd millennium BC. But, about 9th century AD, the civilization of Maya failed.

However, it was the cities of Maya of southern lowlands that had been abandoned gradually. Whilst the precise reason for the strange decline of Maya is still not clear, some more competing theories have been developed by scholars from the available archaeological proof.

History of Maya

The word ‘Maya’ has been the modern collective word not used by indigenous populations themselves. Not like the other indigenous Mesoamerica populations, the Maya were intensifying in a geographical area that corresponds to the current area of the southern Mexico, northern Belize, Guatemala, and in western areas of El Salvador and Honduras.

However, the area can be split to 3 sub-regions, and each with its personal cultural and environmental differences. These are Yucatan Peninsula, Northern Maya lowlands, Northern Guatemala Southern Maya lowlands, and some adjacent areas of Mexico, Western Honduras, Belize, and Southern Maya highlands, the Southern Guatemala.

Maya was never a united civilization. But, in every three areas, the Maya arranged themselves into little states that had been ruled by kings. This appears that each of the states was the hub of a city that would efficiently make them the city-states.

The deficiency of a united Maya civilization was reflected in their speech. It has been stressed out that the first Maya used the general language. During the Pre-Classic era, but, the single language had encountered the diversification amongst the different Maya peoples. Now, there are around 70 distinctive Mayan languages, spoke by about 5 million people now.

The first Maya settlements were dated to about 1800 BC. It marks the start of the Pre-Classic era, which endured until about 250 BC. The early Maya settlements depend on crops and agriculture like corns, beans, cassava, and squash were planted.

As time passed by, the Maya started constructing ceremonial centers. In 250 AD, the centers had expanded into cities with pyramids, palaces, plazas, ball courts and temples. The emergence of cities is being considered as the start of the Classic era. This is at the climax of Maya civilization. While during the Classic era, which lasted around 900 AD, Maya established about 40 cities through Central America.

What Happened to the Maya?

Other main sites from the period include Copán, Palenque, and Calakmul. Like Tikal, the sites were situated in Southern Maya lowlands. The Southern lowland urban areas went into weakened during the 10th century, and abandoned shortly after.

These cities decline and abandonment are reflected in their archaeological record through the cessation of the monumental inscriptions, and termination of bigger-scale construction plans. 

Unsolved puzzle with teachings for the future

This collapse of Maya civilization, or the Maya from Southern lowlands, is the question that goes on to puzzle the scholars now. The data taken from the geological sources have revealed that Maya of the area was encountering severe droughts during the Classic period end. For more histories around the world visit here.