The MayaThe Maya

Mayan cities were rediscovered Mayan cities were rediscovered by John Stephens in 1839by John Stephens in 1839

Stephens, a rich American lawyer, Stephens, a rich American lawyer, heard rumors of ruins in the heard rumors of ruins in the jungle and had himself appointed jungle and had himself appointed ambassador to the Confederation ambassador to the Confederation of Central Americaof Central America

““The city was desolate. No remnant The city was desolate. No remnant of this race hangs around the ruins . of this race hangs around the ruins . . . Here were the remains of a . . Here were the remains of a cultivated, polished, and peculiar cultivated, polished, and peculiar people, who had passed through all people, who had passed through all the stages incident to the rise and the stages incident to the rise and fall of nations, reached their golden fall of nations, reached their golden age and perished . . .” -John age and perished . . .” -John StephensStephens

Mayan cities were located 17-22 Mayan cities were located 17-22 degrees north of the equator, not degrees north of the equator, not tropical!tropical!

Rainy season from May to OctoberRainy season from May to October Northern cities received 18 inches of Northern cities received 18 inches of

precipitation annually, southern cities precipitation annually, southern cities received 100 inches annuallyreceived 100 inches annually

Mayan cities depended on “cenotes” Mayan cities depended on “cenotes” (artificial reservoirs) for water(artificial reservoirs) for water

Corn made up at least 70% of the Corn made up at least 70% of the Mayan dietMayan diet

Beans also importantBeans also important Domestic animals: dog, turkey, Domestic animals: dog, turkey,

Muscovy duck, stingless honey beeMuscovy duck, stingless honey bee Deer and fish were wild food sources Deer and fish were wild food sources

mostly reserved for the elitemostly reserved for the elite

United States- farmers are about United States- farmers are about 2% of population, each farmer 2% of population, each farmer grows enough food for 125 peoplegrows enough food for 125 people

Ancient Egypt-each farmer could Ancient Egypt-each farmer could support 5 familiessupport 5 families

Maya-each farmer could support Maya-each farmer could support only two families, about 70% of only two families, about 70% of Maya were peasantsMaya were peasants

Mayan agricultural Mayan agricultural limitationslimitations Corn has little protein compared to Corn has little protein compared to

other food cropsother food crops Maya had few domesticated plants Maya had few domesticated plants

and animalsand animals Mayan agriculture was less Mayan agriculture was less

intensiveintensive Corn could not be stored for more Corn could not be stored for more

than one year—humid climatethan one year—humid climate No animal tranport or plowsNo animal tranport or plows

Low food production= Maya Low food production= Maya remained divided into many small remained divided into many small kingdoms, perpetual warfarekingdoms, perpetual warfare

CopanCopan

Western Honduras, steep hillsWestern Honduras, steep hills Hills more productive than valley but Hills more productive than valley but

erode quicklyerode quickly Earliest date 426 AD, Latest 822 ADEarliest date 426 AD, Latest 822 AD Health of skeletal remains Health of skeletal remains

deteriorated from 650-850 as hills deteriorated from 650-850 as hills erodederoded

Increased competition for valley Increased competition for valley farmlandfarmland

Copan (cont.)Copan (cont.)

Palace burned around 850 as king Palace burned around 850 as king failed to deliver rain and failed to deliver rain and prosperityprosperity

Population dropped in 950 to Population dropped in 950 to 15,000 (peak was 27,000)15,000 (peak was 27,000)

No signs of people after 1250No signs of people after 1250

Maya CollapseMaya Collapse

1. Not all Maya collapsed at once1. Not all Maya collapsed at once 2. Some Maya (those with stable 2. Some Maya (those with stable

water supplies) survived till water supplies) survived till European contactEuropean contact

3. Kings collapsed before general 3. Kings collapsed before general populationpopulation

4. War led to some collapses4. War led to some collapses 5. Some cities fell, others thrived5. Some cities fell, others thrived

Was there really a Was there really a collapse?collapse? 90-99% of population disappear 90-99% of population disappear

after 800 ADafter 800 AD Southern lowlands (formerly most Southern lowlands (formerly most

densely populated) are densely populated) are abandonedabandoned

Kings, long count calendar, Kings, long count calendar, political and cultural institutions political and cultural institutions disappeareddisappeared

WarWar

Fighting intensified during Fighting intensified during collapse periodcollapse period

Kings fought to take each other Kings fought to take each other captivecaptive

Losers were tortured and Losers were tortured and sacrificedsacrificed

Torture and SacrificeTorture and Sacrifice

Fingers pulled from socketsFingers pulled from sockets Teeth pulledTeeth pulled Lower jaw removedLower jaw removed Lips and fingertips cut offLips and fingertips cut off Fingernails pulled outFingernails pulled out Lips pinned throughLips pinned through Tied into ball and rolled down stairsTied into ball and rolled down stairs

Drought in Maya Drought in Maya CountryCountry Dry from 475-250 BCDry from 475-250 BC Wet after 250 BC (during rise of pre-Wet after 250 BC (during rise of pre-

Classic Maya civilization)Classic Maya civilization) Drought from 125-250 AD (El Mirador Drought from 125-250 AD (El Mirador

and other cities collapse)and other cities collapse) Drought around 600 AD (decline of Drought around 600 AD (decline of

Tikal)Tikal) Worst drought in 7,000 years around Worst drought in 7,000 years around

800 AD (time of Classic collapse)800 AD (time of Classic collapse)

DepopulationDepopulation

Centrel Peten contained 3-14 Centrel Peten contained 3-14 million Maya at its peak, only million Maya at its peak, only 30,000 at Spanish arrival, about 30,000 at Spanish arrival, about 3,000 after Spanish occupation3,000 after Spanish occupation

Cortez almost starved in this area Cortez almost starved in this area because of so few villages and corn, because of so few villages and corn, he passed within miles of Tikal and he passed within miles of Tikal and Palenque but saw nothingPalenque but saw nothing

Depopulation (cont.)Depopulation (cont.)

Central Peten contained about Central Peten contained about 25,000 people by 1960s (less than 25,000 people by 1960s (less than 1% of peak Mayan population)1% of peak Mayan population)

300,000 by 1980s300,000 by 1980s Half of Peten is deforestedHalf of Peten is deforested ¼ of Honduran forests destroyed ¼ of Honduran forests destroyed

from 1964-1989from 1964-1989

QuestionsQuestions

How are the collapse of the Maya How are the collapse of the Maya similar to Easter Island?similar to Easter Island?

How are the Maya similar to us How are the Maya similar to us today?today?

If our society were to collapse, If our society were to collapse, how would it happen?how would it happen?