How did the Mayans disappeared?

Question

After I heard about the new Mel Gibson's movie about the Mayans, It occured to me to ask: Is it true that no one is completely sure how the Mayans disappeared?

Answer 1

I don't know what they claim in the movie about the fate of the Mayan people, but the Maya never disappeared. The Maya and their descendants form sizable populations throughout the Maya area (Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and El Salvador, the southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, and the Yucatán Peninsula states of Quintana Roo, Campeche and Yucatán) and maintain a distinctive set of traditions and beliefs. Many different Mayan languages continue to be spoken as primary languages today.

It's just the Mayan urban centers in the central Mayan lowlands that went in decline during the 8th and 9th century, the so-called "Maya collapse".

"Current theories fall into two categories: non-ecological and ecological."

"Non-ecological theories of Maya decline are divided into several subcategories, such as foreign invasion, peasant revolt, and the collapse of key trade routes. Ecological hypotheses include environmental disaster, epidemic disease, and climate change."

"During the succeeding Postclassic period (from the 10th to the early 16th century), development in the northern centers persisted, characterized by an increasing diversity of external influences. The Maya cities of the northern lowlands in Yucatán continued to flourish for centuries more; some of the important sites in this era were Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Edzná, and Coba."

"Maya civilization : The Maya "collapse" " : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayans#The_Maya_.22collapse.22

"After Ad 900, however, the classical Mayan civilization declined precipitously, leaving the great cities and ceremonial centres vacant and overgrown with jungle vegetation. The causes of this decline are uncertain; some scholars have suggested that armed conflicts and the exhaustion of agricultural land were responsible. During the Post-Classic period (900-1519), cities such as Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, and Mayapán in the highlands of the Yucatán Peninsula continued to flourish for several centuries after the great lowland cities had become depopulated. By the time the Spaniards conquered the area in the early 16th century, most of the Maya were mere village-dwelling agriculturists who practiced the religious rites of their forebears."

"Maya", Encyclopædia Britannica CD 2000

Answer 2

The ancient Mayan civilization disappeared. However, there are still over 20 million Mayan indigenous people in Central America and Mexico today.

Answer 3

Many Mayans were made slaves. Also, white settlers brought diseases like small pox and the Mayans for some unknown reasons could not fight off the disease. It spread more in the Indians than with white people. Also, let's face it white settlers shot some of them off.
Still, some descendants of the Mayans are still alive today.

Answer 4

The culture known as Mayan disappeared from dominance, not the people.

We know when one culture overtakes another because the basic kitchen / household utilitarian ceramic style changes.

Answer 5

I just saw something on the History channel or Discovery where they think that a period of very dry weather led to the downfall of the Myans. They had to move away to find water. There was also internal strife.

Answer 6

The subject of history is fickle...Everyone has a different opinion of how thing were or could've or should've been. The only ppl that really know how it went down have been long dead for many, many years. Everyone had a different interpretation of how they disappeared and really the only way we'll ever know the truth is through evidence.

Answer 7

hello. I was a 'docent' in training at a museum in southern california. I believe the societies of that era 'used' the people of other 'outside' tribes to become strong. Aztec, Maya, whoever. they all believed/wanted their death to be a 'great' one. The did not see the world otherwise, until columbus arrived with his message from 'distant lands'. in that way, their end was inevitable.

Answer 8

YES. HISTORY HAS NO RELIABLE RECORD OF WHAT OCCURRED WITH THIS AMAZING CIVILIZATION! THERE'S LOADS OF PROOF OF THIE EXISTANCE, BUT NONE OF WHERE THEY DISAPPERARED TO!