The Classic Maya kings portrayed themselves as great guarantors of prosperity and stability,but during the critical 8th and 9th centuries leading up to the Maya collapse they were unable to deliver on these promises because of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The degradation of the ecosystem due to overpopulation is the most likely reason for the inability of the Maya kings to deliver prosperity and stability during the 8th and 9th centuries leading up to the Maya collapse. This is supported by archaeological evidence such as deforestation, soil erosion, and declining agricultural productivity. The other options, such as the conquering Spanish, Aztec, or arrival of Quetzalcoatl, are irrelevant as they occurred much later than the collapse of the Classic Maya civilization. Similarly, the introduction of new diseases may have contributed to the collapse, but it is unlikely to be the sole reason.

The Classic Maya Kings Portrayed Themselves as Great Guarantors of Prosperity