What theories are supported by modern historians as reasonable explanations for the decline of Mayan civilization
The overpopulation, disaster
and foreign invasions are some of the theories supported by modern historians as reasonable explanations for the decline of Mayan civilization.
1. Overpopulation: One theory suggests that the Mayan civilization experienced a rapid population growth that eventually led to local resources being overexploited and the inability of the land to support such a large population. This could have resulted in food shortages, malnutrition, and social unrest.
2. Environmental disasters: Another theory proposes that environmental disasters, such as severe droughts or floods, played a significant role in the decline. This theory is supported by evidence of long periods of reduced rainfall and the abandonment of certain cities due to the lack of access to water or agricultural resources.
3. Foreign invasions: Some modern historians argue that external factors, like conflicts and invasions by neighboring civilizations, contributed to the decline of the Mayan civilization. The arrival of groups like the Toltecs, who had a more militaristic culture, could have destabilized the region and disrupted the social and political structures of the Mayans.
4. Collapse of the political system: Another theory suggests that internal factors, such as political disintegration, could have contributed to the decline. This theory proposes that the complex political structure of the Mayan civilization, with its many city-states and rivalries, became too unstable and ultimately collapsed due to internal conflicts and power struggles.
It is important to note that these theories are not mutually exclusive, and multiple factors likely contributed to the decline of the Mayan civilization. Additionally, the Mayan civilization was not completely wiped out, and some Mayan cities continued to thrive even after the decline of the classic Mayan civilization.