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3. The Mayans - Ruins Among the Trees

Fall of Civilizations・44 minutes read

Spanish friar Avendano failed to convert Maya King of Tiasal, exploring Tikal's ruins instead, as the Spanish conquest led to the Maya civilization's downfall with the loss of culture and language. Despite the collapse of Maya cities due to environmental pressures and societal tensions, surviving texts and remnants reflect on their complex civilization, explored in the Fall of Civilizations podcast with support from Patreon subscribers.

Insights

  • Spanish bishop Diego de Landa's destruction of Maya knowledge nearly eradicated their writing system, but his notes on the Maya alphabet later aided in deciphering it, revealing the civilization's advanced society.
  • The collapse of the Maya civilization was influenced by environmental pressures like deforestation, overpopulation, and drought, leading to societal complexity decrease and eventual abandonment of cities, showcasing the intricate factors contributing to their downfall.

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Recent questions

  • What caused the collapse of the Maya civilization?

    Environmental pressures, societal tensions, and wars.

  • What were the Maya known for?

    Advanced mathematics, pyramids, and cultural practices.

  • What were the main causes of Maya city abandonment?

    Environmental damage, societal tensions, and wars.

  • What were the key achievements of the Maya civilization?

    Advanced mathematics, pyramids, and cultural practices.

  • What led to the downfall of Maya cities?

    Environmental challenges, societal tensions, and wars.

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Summary

00:00

"Maya Civilization: Rise, Fall, and Legacy"

  • In 1695, Spanish friar Andreas de Avendano y Laiola, fleeing through Central American forests, failed in his mission to convert the Maya King of Tiasal to Christianity.
  • Avendano and his men faced hunger and thirst, stumbling upon the ruins of Tikal, a once-great Maya city, showcasing its former grandeur.
  • The Spanish conquest in the 16th century led to the downfall of the Maya civilization, with diseases like smallpox decimating the population.
  • American writer John Lloyd Stevens and artist Catherwood explored Maya ruins in the 19th century, revealing the grandeur of Maya cities to the world.
  • The Maya writing system, similar to Egypt's hieroglyphics, was nearly eradicated by Spanish bishop Diego de Landa, who burned centuries of Maya knowledge.
  • De Landa's ruthless methods during the Spanish conquest led to the loss of Maya culture and language, with only three Maya books surviving.
  • Despite de Landa's efforts, his notes on the Maya alphabet aided in deciphering Maya writing, revealing the advanced society that once thrived.
  • The collapse of the Maya civilization over 500 years ago saw the disappearance of over 40 cities and millions of people, leaving behind ruins covered by forests.
  • The Maya were a diverse group of city-states and kingdoms in present-day Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and southern Mexico, sharing a cohesive culture.
  • The Maya were known for their advanced mathematics, stepped pyramids, and unique cultural practices, showcasing a rich and complex civilization.

17:23

"Maya Civilization: Gods, Sports, and Ingenuity"

  • The Maya civilization did not invent the wheel, the arch, or the pulley, but they had colorful names like Shark Fin Lady and True Magic Leopard.
  • Early Spanish accounts described the Mayas' clothing, earplugs, green ink tattoos, and red and black paint.
  • The Maya believed in circular time, repeating history, and predicting the future from the past.
  • They worshipped complex gods like the sun god, corn god, rain god, and underworld gods, living in deep caves.
  • The Mayans were known for ball sports, using a ball made of resin from a hot country.
  • Despite facing environmental challenges, the Mayans built huge monuments showcasing their ingenuity.
  • The Yucatan Peninsula had limestone karst formations with cenotes for water collection.
  • The Mayans relied on human labor for transportation and used slash-and-burn agriculture due to thin soil.
  • They were a Stone Age society, working with copper but not iron or bronze, using obsidian tools.
  • The Maya civilization began around 1800 BC, domesticating crops like corn, beans, and cocoa beans for chocolate.

33:54

Maya Civilization Collapse: Wars, Allies, Environment

  • Calakmul slowly gathered small states around Tikal into allies, threatening trade routes and supply lines.
  • Calakmul's snake sculptures were numerous due to its successful strategy against Tikal from the 6th century AD.
  • The "Double Bird" king of Tikal worsened its fortunes by losing Caracol, a vassal city, due to political missteps.
  • Maya warfare was largely symbolic, involving low-level skirmishes and 'axe wars' for captives and sacrifices.
  • Tikal initiated an 'Ax War' against Caracol in 556, leading to violent attacks and kidnappings.
  • Caracol retaliated with a 'Star War' against Tikal, supported by Calakmul, tightening the siege on Tikal.
  • Tikal was besieged in 562, leading to destruction, population stagnation, and the rise of a new king named Animal Skull.
  • The collapse of Maya cities began around 800 AD, with inscriptions fading and cities falling silent one by one.
  • Environmental pressures like deforestation, overpopulation, and drought contributed to the collapse of Maya civilization.
  • The collapse was attributed to a decrease in cultural complexity due to a sudden decrease in solar radiation, leading to societal inability to maintain its complexity.

51:07

Maya Civilization: Rise, Fall, and Remnants

  • The collapse of certain regions led to their abandonment, as seen in Chilam Balam, a Maya text post-European contact, hinting at rulers causing drought and devastation.
  • Copan, a city in western Honduras, thrived due to its strategic trade position for obsidian, jade, and quetzal, with fertile valley agriculture supporting its population.
  • Over time, Copan faced challenges with eroding hills, leading to soil depletion and increased pressure on valley agriculture, causing malnutrition and disease among its inhabitants.
  • Tikal, a significant Maya city, experienced a period of prosperity followed by decline, with allies asserting independence and the city eventually falling into chaos and abandonment.
  • The collapse of Maya civilization was influenced by environmental damage, climate change, agricultural failures, and societal tensions, leading to wars and the disintegration of political systems.
  • The Maya lowlands witnessed violent conflicts over scarce resources, with cities like Piedras Negras fortifying against attacks and evidence of bloody battles.
  • The Maya civilization's decline resulted in abandoned cities, with modern discoveries like the massive pyramid at Tonina revealing the scale of their architectural achievements.
  • Post-European contact, Maya texts and traditions were suppressed, leading to the loss of their language, history, and meanings, leaving behind silent remnants of a lost world.
  • Surviving Maya texts, like the Bakabes Ritual, hold complex meanings lost to time, reflecting on the fall of their civilization and the sense of doom that accompanied it.
  • The Fall of Civilizations podcast delves into the Maya civilization's collapse, highlighting the intricate factors contributing to their downfall and the poignant remnants left behind.

01:07:55

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