A striking research has been published today about the Maya Civilization, one of the most advanced civilizations of antiquity. The research, published in the journal Nature, sheds new light on what caused the collapse of the Maya Civilization. According to the research, the cause of the collapse of civilization was a great drought.
The civilization’s capital, Mayapan, located on the Yucatán Peninsula that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, faced a major drought, according to the study. Drought, estimated to have occurred between 1400 and 1450, eventually led to civil conflict. Political collapse followed this conflict.
The people revolted:
According to the shared details, the drought and lack of water affected the agriculture and trade routes and put pressure on the people of Mayapan. The situation became more dangerous as food became scarce and eventually led to both the death and migration of people to different regions. Excavations in the region also supported this theory.
Examining the last mass grave excavated before the city was abandoned, researchers reported that most of the remains likely belonged to family members of the civilization’s heads of state. This was also considered as evidence of the bloody civil conflict. Mayapan collapsed between 1441 and 1461.
An important warning for today:
While the new research provided important information about the end of the Maya Civilization, it was also an important warning for the present day, according to scientists. Scientists stated that the research is a sign of how today’s climate crisis can affect even the most advanced civilizations.
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