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You are here: Home / History / What happened to the Maya and Why did the Maya civilization decline?

What happened to the Maya and Why did the Maya civilization decline?

March 12, 2020 by Karen Hill

In about 900, the Maya civilization began to decline.

The reason for this decline is not clear. The Maya may have overfarmed the land, leaving the soil barren. They may also have fallen victim to epidemics or been ruined by constant warfare.

The descendants of the Maya lived on, but with little of their former glory. They were treated brutally by Spanish conquistadores in the sixteenth century and discriminated against by descendants of those Spaniards who settled in the region.

Today, Maya people in Mexico and neighboring Guatemala are working to preserve their culture while trying to improve their economic opportunities.

The Toltec artists crafted large stone sculptures called chacmools. Placed by a ruler’s throne, a chacmool depicted a fallen warrior lying on his back. On the warrior’s torso was a vessel used to hold the hearts of human sacrifices.

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Filed Under: History

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « When did the Mound Builders come into contact with European settlers?
Next Post: What types of ball games did the Maya play and How was Playing Ball violent? »

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