Question #f799b

1 Answer
Dec 16, 2017

One theory is environmental damage.

Explanation:

The Mayan Cities were located in the rain forests of the Yucatan peninsula. The rain forests are a delicate environment. As the Mayan cities grew more of the surrounding rain forests were cut down to provide building materials and fuel for cooking and energy.

The loss of the rain forest canopy is thought to have changed the climate in the areas around the cities. As the there was less transpirtation from the trees, there was less moisture in the air.
This caused a reduction in rain fall. The political spiritual leaders were supposed to be able to control the rainfall and the harvest of the maize. The loss of rain caused a loss in food production, wealth and confidence in the leadership.

The cities had been centers of religion and culture. When the climate changed the leaders were no longer able to control the population and provide the wealth, food, scurity there was no reason for people to live in the cities.

Further as the wealth of the cities decreased cities started to attack and raid other cities to steal the wealth of the other cities to make up for the loses in their own cities. These wars and raids may have been the final blow to the organized cities of the Mayan.