Was the Mayan civilisation wiped out by an extreme drought? Study of Great Blue Hole suggests

UK Daily Mail ^ | December 30, 2014 | Jonathan O'Callaghan

[C19fan]

For hundreds of years the Mayans dominated large parts of the Americas until, mysteriously in the 8th and 9th century AD, a large chunk of the Mayan civilisation collapsed. The reason for this collapse has been hotly debated, but now scientists say they might have an answer - an intense drought that lasted a century. Studies of sediments in the Great Blue Hole in Belize suggest a lack of rains caused the disintegration of the Mayan civilisation, and a second dry spell forced them to relocate elsewhere.

[NorthstarMom]

I wondered how much they knew as we see through history that the further people are from God, the more ignorant they become. We have a dvd set of a history conference, the “Message From the Mayans” was fascinating. They were an evil culture-the conquistadors’ description of the priests was vivid and awful.

[Caipirabob]

They were capable of performing successful basic neurosurgery as long as it wasn't too invasive beyond the surface of the brain itself. I would recommend a book called "Aztec" by Gary Jennings. You can buy in 2nd hand on Amazon for pennies. It's about the Aztec culture just prior, during and in it's twilight during the Spanish conquest of their nation.

The book is written from the perspective of the Papal records and then from the point of view of one of the surviving Aztec scribes. Brutal story, but rich in well researched facts.

Fascinating culture, great food and as my lovely wife is descended of the Chibcha people, I've got a personal connection in researching what history wasn't completely destroyed by the Spaniards.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks C19fan.

[blam]

Also this:

Historical Review: Megadrought And Megadeath In 16th Century Mexico (Hemorrhagic Fever)

"The epidemic of cocoliztli from1545 to 1548 killed an estimated 5 million to 15 million people, or up to 80% of the native population of Mexico (Figure 1). In absolute and relative terms the 1545 epidemic was one of the worst demographic catastrophes in human history, approaching even the Black Death of bubonic plague, which killed approximately 25 million in western Europe from 1347 to 1351 or about 50% of the regional population. "

[bert]

berts rule:

the kids moved away
the old folks died

It is still operative....... think Deetroit

[Texan5]

“They were an evil culture-the conquistadors’ description of the priests was vivid and awful”

The name conquistador means “conqueror”-bad start for an unbiased account...

One of my cousins is married to an archaeologist-a Paleo-Indian expert, and my first husband and I used his provided itineraries to visit ruins in Mexico on many vacations in the past. With all due respect-the interactions of those two ethnic groups and their cultures was rather like the pot meeting the kettle-the conquistadors were pretty competitive in the evil category, what with the inquisition going on and all-they certainly weren’t close to the God I believe in as a Catholic...

The only difference I’ve ever seen between the two is that the Aztecs and Mayas preferred carving the heart out of a living victim as a method of execution, while the Spaniards-priests and conquistadors alike-preferred to either put them to the sword or burn them alive as heretics after a nice torture session-not much of a choice...

By the time my ancestors got to Mexico from Spain a century or so later, the native Americans weren’t doing that sort of thing, but the Spaniards were still merrily torturing and burning people-which is likely the reason my Basque antecedents left in the first place-Basques were rebellious and not popular with the Spanish crown most of the time-my ancestors or not, Spaniards/conquistadors were a cruel, bloody bunch...

[Sawdring]

I read the History of the Conquest of Mexico by William H. Prescott and found it to be very well written a pleasure to read. I know some of his information is dated but he brings the Aztec civilization into color.

[Caipirabob]

Thanks - I went and found it for Kindle. It's on my wishlist so I won't lose it. Love Kindle...Instant literary gratification - lol!

Cheers and Happy New Year!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

No, and no one ever said it was. The Mayans left their cities around 600 years before the conquistadors arrived.

The conquistadors allied with their decedents against the Aztec then turned on them killing and enslaved many of them.

[Flag_This]

"The conquistadors allied with their decedents against the Aztec then turned on them killing and enslaved many of them."

The Tlaxcalans allied with the Spanish against the Aztecs because they'd gotten tired of the Aztecs dragging off their people and ripping their hearts out.

[Sawdring]

You can’t beat a great read for only $0.99. I don’t like reading paper books anymore and buy everything on my Kindle.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Yep.

They had excellent reasons for hating the Aztec, however the conquistadors were not much better.

Spain and france were two countries that would sell their allies down the river as soon as there was a slight advantage in doing so. Sometimes they did it when there was really no advantage. Strange bunch.

[jalisco555]

This is completely off-topic but diving the blue hole is an awesome experience.

[esquirette]

I would love to have that set! I was a Spanish major in college and love learning about the history of Latin America. For example, probably everyone knows that part of the reason Cortez was successful was that he allied with local tribes who were sick of the Aztecs.