The Classic Maya Collapse

Description

Editor: Culbert, T. Patrick (1930-2013)

Publisher: University of New Mexico Press and the School of American Research

Pub Date: 1977

Binding: Paperback

Condition: Fair.  Binding tight.  No marks, tears, bends or folds.  Smudging to bottom text block.  Very light edge and corner wear.  Appears unused.

Notes: Conference papers.  Aside from the “zonation” problem (Southern, Northern, lowlands, highlands), “The natural vegetation of most of the Maya Lowlands is tropical rain forest.  The exploitative potential for small populations is good since there are numerous edible fruits, roots, and nuts and some large and small game.  This potential, however, declines rapidly with increasing population densities.  It seems likely that by the peak population of the Late Classic times very extensive parts of the rain forest had been destroyed by cultivation, decreasing wild plant and animal food. ”  (From the Introduction)  Pressure to “build the system” (i.e. more power/prestige/ritual/symbols/sustenance for the elites) caused more people to work for the elites and less for themselves, increased disease, decreased food production, and the environment may have all played a part in the Collapse.  A hardcover edition of this title is also available.  See https://joethebookguy.com/shop/archaeology/the-classic-maya-collapse/