The Maya

Mayan cities were rediscovered by John Stephens in 1839 Mayan cities were rediscovered by John Stephens in 1839 Stephens, a rich American lawyer, heard rumors of ruins in the jungle and had himself appointed ambassador to the Confederation of Central America Stephens, a rich American lawyer, heard rumors of ruins in the jungle and had himself appointed ambassador to the Confederation of Central America

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

Mayan cities were located degrees north of the equator, not tropical! Mayan cities were located degrees north of the equator, not tropical! Rainy season from May to October Rainy season from May to October Northern cities received 18 inches of precipitation annually, southern cities received 100 inches annually Northern cities received 18 inches of precipitation annually, southern cities received 100 inches annually Mayan cities depended on “cenotes” (artificial reservoirs) for water Mayan cities depended on “cenotes” (artificial reservoirs) for water

Corn made up at least 70% of the Mayan diet Corn made up at least 70% of the Mayan diet Beans also important Beans also important Domestic animals: dog, turkey, Muscovy duck, stingless honey bee Domestic animals: dog, turkey, Muscovy duck, stingless honey bee Deer and fish were wild food sources mostly reserved for the elite Deer and fish were wild food sources mostly reserved for the elite

United States- farmers are about 2% of population, each farmer grows enough food for 125 people United States- farmers are about 2% of population, each farmer grows enough food for 125 people Ancient Egypt-each farmer could support 5 families Ancient Egypt-each farmer could support 5 families Maya-each farmer could support only two families, about 70% of Maya were peasants Maya-each farmer could support only two families, about 70% of Maya were peasants

Mayan agricultural limitations Corn has little protein compared to other food crops Corn has little protein compared to other food crops Maya had few domesticated plants and animals Maya had few domesticated plants and animals Mayan agriculture was less intensive Mayan agriculture was less intensive Corn could not be stored for more than one year—humid climate Corn could not be stored for more than one year—humid climate No animal tranport or plows No animal tranport or plows

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

Copan Western Honduras, steep hills Western Honduras, steep hills Hills more productive than valley but erode quickly Hills more productive than valley but erode quickly Earliest date 426 AD, Latest 822 AD Earliest date 426 AD, Latest 822 AD Health of skeletal remains deteriorated from as hills eroded Health of skeletal remains deteriorated from as hills eroded Increased competition for valley farmland Increased competition for valley farmland

Copan (cont.) Palace burned around 850 as king failed to deliver rain and prosperity Palace burned around 850 as king failed to deliver rain and prosperity Population dropped in 950 to 15,000 (peak was 27,000) Population dropped in 950 to 15,000 (peak was 27,000) No signs of people after 1250 No signs of people after 1250

Maya Collapse 1. Not all Maya collapsed at once 1. Not all Maya collapsed at once 2. Some Maya (those with stable water supplies) survived till European contact 2. Some Maya (those with stable water supplies) survived till European contact 3. Kings collapsed before general population 3. Kings collapsed before general population 4. War led to some collapses 4. War led to some collapses 5. Some cities fell, others thrived 5. Some cities fell, others thrived

Was there really a collapse? 90-99% of population disappear after 800 AD 90-99% of population disappear after 800 AD Southern lowlands (formerly most densely populated) are abandoned Southern lowlands (formerly most densely populated) are abandoned Kings, long count calendar, political and cultural institutions disappeared Kings, long count calendar, political and cultural institutions disappeared

War Fighting intensified during collapse period Fighting intensified during collapse period Kings fought to take each other captive Kings fought to take each other captive Losers were tortured and sacrificed Losers were tortured and sacrificed

Torture and Sacrifice Fingers pulled from sockets Fingers pulled from sockets Teeth pulled Teeth pulled Lower jaw removed Lower jaw removed Lips and fingertips cut off Lips and fingertips cut off Fingernails pulled out Fingernails pulled out Lips pinned through Lips pinned through Tied into ball and rolled down stairs Tied into ball and rolled down stairs

Drought in Maya Country Dry from BC Dry from BC Wet after 250 BC (during rise of pre-Classic Maya civilization) Wet after 250 BC (during rise of pre-Classic Maya civilization) Drought from AD (El Mirador and other cities collapse) Drought from AD (El Mirador and other cities collapse) Drought around 600 AD (decline of Tikal) Drought around 600 AD (decline of Tikal) Worst drought in 7,000 years around 800 AD (time of Classic collapse) Worst drought in 7,000 years around 800 AD (time of Classic collapse)

Depopulation Centrel Peten contained 3-14 million Maya at its peak, only 30,000 at Spanish arrival, about 3,000 after Spanish occupation Centrel Peten contained 3-14 million Maya at its peak, only 30,000 at Spanish arrival, about 3,000 after Spanish occupation Cortez almost starved in this area because of so few villages and corn, he passed within miles of Tikal and Palenque but saw nothing Cortez almost starved in this area because of so few villages and corn, he passed within miles of Tikal and Palenque but saw nothing

Depopulation (cont.) Central Peten contained about 25,000 people by 1960s (less than 1% of peak Mayan population) Central Peten contained about 25,000 people by 1960s (less than 1% of peak Mayan population) 300,000 by 1980s 300,000 by 1980s Half of Peten is deforested Half of Peten is deforested ¼ of Honduran forests destroyed from ¼ of Honduran forests destroyed from

Questions How are the collapse of the Maya similar to Easter Island? How are the collapse of the Maya similar to Easter Island? How are the Maya similar to us today? How are the Maya similar to us today? If our society were to collapse, how would it happen? If our society were to collapse, how would it happen?