WHY DID THE MAYAN CIVILIZATION COLLAPSE?

Mayans have collapsed by disaster or environmental change because the drought evaporated water and eventually, Mayans lost lots of food.

EVIDENCE

Disaster/Environmental Change Evidence

• Mayans had lots of water
• The dry spell occurred for two millennia
• This theory has to do with the other theories in this Keynote like warfare

WARFARE EVIDENCE

• Massive forts for protection
• Paintings, ceramics, and monuments depict warfare and slaves
• 45 Mayan skeletons died of spears in a Guatemalan cemetery

DISEASE EVIDENCE

• Peregrinus maidis spread a virus through corn
• Howler monkeys brought yellow fever

FAMINE EVIDENCE

• Mayan land became less fertile
• A drought occurred, resulting in famine

THE THESIS

DISASTER THESIS (POSITIVE)

• Used too much water
• A drought has occurred
• Possibly started the other theories for various reasons

WARFARE THESIS (NEGATIVE)

• Chichén Itzá would be in ruins
• A lot more deaths by spears

Disease Facts (Negative)

• Only a hundred Mayans should die of infected maize
• About all of the Mayans were dead when the Spanish came

FAMINE THESIS (NEGATIVE)

• Wouldn't the Maya still have extra crops for the population (at least for two years)?

THE END