The Fall of the Mayan Civilization

The Fall of the Mayan Civilization Elizabeth Putman prof Jennifer Adrienne Humanities 111 January 26, 2012 Mashkan-shapir was a typical Mesopotamian city, fit(p) about 20 miles from the Tigris River, and connected to the river by a ne cardinalrk of canals. Despite a flourishing civilization, Mashkan-shapir was dilapidated within further 20 years of its settlement. What could have caused this rapid demise? For decades, archaeologists have been searching for an bill of the Maya collapse. Many theories have been put forward, ranging from divergence and invasion to migration, disease and over- upriseing.According to a study published in an expiration of Science (March, 2003), a long limit of dry climate, punctuated by three everlasting(a) drouths, led to the end of the Maya society. Along with factors such(prenominal) as war and changes in the environment, irrigation techniques contend an important role in Mashkan-shapirs collapse. Yes, the identical process that allowed farmi ng in this constituent eventually made it impossible to farm leading to their devastation by starvation. lengthened droughts also contributed to the lack of food and potable water. The Mayans used irrigation for their crop output signal.Unfortunately, the rivers were high than the surrounding plain, so water for irrigation flowed into the product line by gravity. The bowls were lower than the rivers, after the water sat in the field and was allowed to evaporate naturally. This led to erosion and the buildup of mineral salts. When mineral salts concentrate in the velocity levels of the soil, it becomes toxic for plants. By 2300 B. C. , agricultural production in Mesopotamia was impossible. Many fields were abandoned as essentially useless. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets guarantee of crop damage due to salts.Cecil, Jessica (2011) surrender of the Maya. http. www. history. com/topic/maya The majority of Mayans every migrated due to lack of food and water, or stayed and perishe d by dehydration and starvation. Only a fraction of the Maya people survived to resist the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Yes, conflict was significant, as was disease, but I adamantly conceptualize that the core problems was a prolonged drought along with inadequate irrigation techniques. Whatever the cause, the Maya did non die out entirely. Some two million are alive today, generally in the northern part of Yucatan and in Guatemala.References Thompson, J. , Eric, S. , Rise and fall of maya civilization. University of Oklahoma. Press, 1954. Norman, Ok. Unknown (2000). The antediluvian Mayan Civilization. http//mayanarchaeology. tripod. com/id2. html Cecil, Jessica (2011). Decline of the maya. Retrieved January 24, 2012 from http// www. history. com/topic/maya. Stuart, G. , Stuart, G. (1977). The dim Maya. National Geographic Society, Washington, DC. Retrieved January 24, 2012 from http//www. nationalgeographic. com/inca/machu_picchu. html