Without writing too much the above documentary 'Engineering an Empire- The Mayans' by the History Channel would be a good summing up of the section on Mayans. Its insightful and further demonstrates the linkages between societal disorder and the environment.
An interesting example from the above documentary (@31:00) is the use of Sacbe or 'White roads. Not only it is a symbol of alliance and power for two cities but also a symbol of engineering marvel. This has more important implication; it is one of the methods for the citizens of Southern lowland to migrate from the negative effects of climate change. A method of efficient migration for the survivors to move to other cities or/and to rebuilding of new cities. This is one of the reasons why the city of Chichen Itza become so power in the late 10th and early 11th century. This demonstrated how Mayan engineering actually mitigated societal disorder in the Southern city by proving a 'way out' to the Northern Yucatan. Blow is an image of Sacbe.
Next entry I will look at how changes in precipitation could cause societal disorder in the present and drawing extensively on Africa as a case study. Could the same fate for the Mayans happen to Africa in the future as climate change worsens?
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| Source: Google image |
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