in 3-5 sentences, explain the three different theories as discussed in the unit on what happened to the mayan people. which theory do you believe? explain your reasoning
The three different theories discussed in the unit on what happened to the Mayan people are: environmental degradation, warfare and conflict, and a combination of both factors. The environmental degradation theory suggests that the Mayans exhausted their resources through deforestation and extensive agriculture, leading to the collapse of their civilization. The warfare and conflict theory suggests that the Mayans were caught in a cycle of regional warfare, resulting in the decline of their society. Lastly, the combined theory argues that a combination of environmental degradation and warfare contributed to the collapse of the Mayan civilization.
Personally, I believe that a combination of both environmental degradation and warfare played a significant role in the demise of the Mayan people. The Mayans practiced unsustainable agricultural techniques that led to widespread deforestation and soil degradation. This environmental degradation weakened their society and made them vulnerable to conflicts and warfare. The multiple factors, including resource depletion, regional warfare, and weakened social structure, were likely interdependent and contributed to the ultimate collapse of the Mayan civilization.