The Mayan civilization flourished in Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras) starting from about 2000 BC, and the period represented between the year 250 AD and 900 AD the peak of this civilization, in terms of urbanization, science and writing.
But by the end of this period, which was called the “classic period”, most of the big cities in the southern region suddenly collapsed, and the population decreased radically, and it was not accurately known as the cause of this collapse.
Old genes speak
But it seems that the answer to this question is close, as an international research team analyzed the DNA of 64 people from the ancient sites of the Mayan civilization, especially the Copan archaeological site, located in the western Honduras, and was an important civilized center for this civilization.
These samples are due to the peak of that civilization (classic period), and before and beyond, and in this context the researchers used advanced genomic techniques to examine genetic relations between individuals in different times and regions, then the old Maya genuals were compared to the current Central American residents.
According to the studyThe team published in the journal “Carment Biological”, the results indicated that there was no “complete replacement” of the population after the collapse, meaning that there are those remaining the population, and like the ancestors of the current population in Guatemala and Mexico, who still carry the same genetic background for the classic Mayan residents.
This means that the collapse was civilized and economical, not a comprehensive extinction or invasion, and besides that genetic patterns appeared that the inhabitants of the low -south regions (such as Tikal) began to move north to areas such as Yukatan, this supports the hypothesis that many people migrated to escape something, such as famine or conflicts.
The study found that at the end of the era of civilized peak, the diversity of the DNA decreased in some areas, indicating the decrease in the population significantly, which is likely to have factors such as famine and the spread of diseases and then the decrease in the rates of marriage and reproduction and the departure of the population (collective migration).
Scientists also noticed changes in the patterns of kinship inside the graves. In the prosperous periods, relatives were buried together, and after collapse, the family ties in the burial decreased, which indicates the disintegration of social ties.
Complex and multiple factors
The study does not explain the collapse with one simple answer, but it enhances the theory of complex and multiple collapse, there is severe drought, where archaeological and geological sources indicated severe drought waves in the same period of collapse, these waves affected crops, especially in areas based on rain, and this led to wide -ranging famine.
Before the collapse, the Mayan cities were suffering from a large population density, and with the sweeping of drought, the resources became not enough for everyone, especially with the decline in agriculture.
This led by political conflicts, and then military, and the inscriptions that were found in many collapsed cities indicated the escalation of wars between the kingdoms.
These conflicts have increased economic and social pressures, and the researchers believe that many of the Mayan kingdoms lost their legitimacy with the escalation of crises, and the people’s confidence in the ruling classes has declined and led to the disintegration of the political and religious system that was coherent for centuries.
Voice of the past .. to warn of the future
The new study showed that genetic history is a powerful tool in revealing the secrets of the past, as it enables it to reveal what the effects or inscriptions do not say.
It also showed its similarity with our modern age, as the factors of the collapse of civilization (drought, conflicts, excessive consumption, and climate change) reminded us of the challenges of the current century, and therefore the Maya civilization may be a warning lesson for humanity in how to deal with environmental and political disasters.
In fact, the results of the new study are consistent with other regions of the world, including what happened here in our Arab region, for example the sudden collapse of the Bronze Age (from approximately 3300 BC to 1200 BC) is one of the most mysterious and exciting events in ancient history, and it constituted a turning point in major civilizations in the eastern Mediterranean and the Near East.
The matter happened about 1200 BC, and the collapse lasted about 50 to 100 years, and ended great civilizations that lasted for centuries, including the Hittite Kingdom (in Anatolia – Turkey today) and the Kingdom of Mesina (in Greece) and a large part of the ancient Egyptian Empire, and other surrounding areas.
Currently, a team of researchers suggests that the main cause of all of this is related to climate change, as there are indications of a long -term drought that reduced crops, reduced food and led to famine, and then internal revolutions on the ruling classes, turmoil between cities or countries and the disintegration of political alliances.