Mayans
Mayan Mystery Theory
Professor Wilkinson
Strayer University
HUM 111
Shaun Broadnax
October 31, 2012
Mayan Mystery Theory
The Maya are often referred to as the most well-known classical civilization of the Mesoamerican region. They are thought to have first originated around 2600 B.C. in the Yucatan and their society flourished during the Classic Period from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D. They inhabited the land presently known as Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Northern Belize, and Honduras. Their society was based on pre-existing civilizations, but they soon transformed theirs into a much more complex culture by developing astronomy, calendar systems, and hieroglyphic writing. Also, history shows us that the Maya were adept in architecture as is seen by their numerous pyramids. They were also skilled farmers that managed to clear dense tropical forest in order to build underground reservations for water. During the Classic Period, the Maya society consisted of many independent states that all had their own ruling systems. Around 900 A.D., for reasons still not proven, the Mayas suddenly started to decline. The two major factors that these theories rely upon are the present condition of the Classic-stage Mayan ruins and the frequency of earthquakes in the highlands of Guatemala. Throughout history, theorists have often labeled changes in the climate of a particular area or region as the cause of a civilizations collapse. For example, in 2200 B.C, a dry spell in the northern area of the Mesopotamian Valley wiped out the Akkadian Empire, which stretched for almost 800 miles into the Persian Gulf. This knowledge stems from research that found a decline in the number of earthworm holes and an abundance of wind-blown pellets, this indicates an arid region with the habitants in great need of rainfall at all times. Between 800 A.D. and 900 A.D., when the Maya Indians were reaching their height in the classic period, they seemed to suddenly collapse. According to the
Professor Wilkinson
Strayer University
HUM 111
Shaun Broadnax
October 31, 2012
Mayan Mystery Theory
The Maya are often referred to as the most well-known classical civilization of the Mesoamerican region. They are thought to have first originated around 2600 B.C. in the Yucatan and their society flourished during the Classic Period from 300 A.D. to 900 A.D. They inhabited the land presently known as Southern Mexico, Guatemala, Northern Belize, and Honduras. Their society was based on pre-existing civilizations, but they soon transformed theirs into a much more complex culture by developing astronomy, calendar systems, and hieroglyphic writing. Also, history shows us that the Maya were adept in architecture as is seen by their numerous pyramids. They were also skilled farmers that managed to clear dense tropical forest in order to build underground reservations for water. During the Classic Period, the Maya society consisted of many independent states that all had their own ruling systems. Around 900 A.D., for reasons still not proven, the Mayas suddenly started to decline. The two major factors that these theories rely upon are the present condition of the Classic-stage Mayan ruins and the frequency of earthquakes in the highlands of Guatemala. Throughout history, theorists have often labeled changes in the climate of a particular area or region as the cause of a civilizations collapse. For example, in 2200 B.C, a dry spell in the northern area of the Mesopotamian Valley wiped out the Akkadian Empire, which stretched for almost 800 miles into the Persian Gulf. This knowledge stems from research that found a decline in the number of earthworm holes and an abundance of wind-blown pellets, this indicates an arid region with the habitants in great need of rainfall at all times. Between 800 A.D. and 900 A.D., when the Maya Indians were reaching their height in the classic period, they seemed to suddenly collapse. According to the
References: Http://mayanarchaeology,tripod.com/id2.html Http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm407534.html