What happened to the Mayan people?

What happened to the Mayan people?

Mysterious Decline of the Maya One by one, the Classic cities in the southern lowlands were abandoned, and by A.D. 900, Maya civilization in that region had collapsed. Finally, some catastrophic environmental change–like an extremely long, intense period of drought–may have wiped out the Classic Maya civilization.

How did the Mayans die out?

Scholars have suggested a number of potential reasons for the downfall of Maya civilization in the southern lowlands, including overpopulation, environmental degradation, warfare, shifting trade routes and extended drought. It’s likely that a complex combination of factors was behind the collapse.

Where did Maya come from?

Mayan languages, family of indigenous languages spoken in southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; Mayan languages were also formerly spoken in western Honduras and western El Salvador. See also Mesoamerican Indian languages.

Did the Mayans speak Nahuatl?

The Aztecs were Nahuatl-speaking people who lived in central Mexico in the 14th to 16th centuries. Their tribute empire spread throughout Mesoamerica.

What does name Maya mean?

good mother

What Mayan ruins still exist today?

Some of the most famous Mayan urban centres, which today continue to be the most important sites of Mayan ruins, include Tikal, Calakmul, Copan, Chichen Itza, Palenque, and Xunantunich, among others.

What is the most famous Mayan ruin?

1. Chichén Itzá It’s impossible to talk about Mexico’s Mayan ruins and leave out Chichen Itza. One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is known around the world, and its image is one of Mexico’s most recognized.

Is it safe to visit Mayan ruins?

Major ruin sites such as Chichen Itza, Tulum and Tikal do have security, are open only to those who have payed the fee and are nowhere near as dangerous as some of the large cities, but wise visitors still take simple precautions to reduce the chance of theft spoiling their trip.