The Classic Maya Collapse: A Review of Evidence and Interpretations Page: 96
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96
of works Huntington developed his theme of environmental
determinism, making the "apparent connection between climate
and history. "55 Since,,as he believed, the Maya developed a
civilization in the "lowlands where agriculture is practically
impossible" the "anomalies of the Maya situation"-- that a
great civilization grew under such adverse conditions--could
be explained by a "climatic change such that the dry conditions
which prevail a little farther north prevailed in the Maya
region when these people attained eminence."56 A lesser
amount of rainfall he considered
a distinct advantage, because it prevents the growth
of the great tropical forest which so effectively
checks human progress. If the rainfall of the past
had been greater than that of the present, the
effect would have been to diminish rather than in-
crease the density of population.57
Such a postulated diminution of population Huntington
ascribed to a combination of unhealthful conditions and an
agricultural crisis. The Maya slash and burn technology became
ineffective. During a prolonged period of increased precipi-
tation, the dry season "was probably so short "that the bushes
,58
could not be burned. " Without sufficient time to dry, the
55. Ellsworth Huntington, Civilization and Climate (New Haven:
Yale University Press, 1915), p. 6.
56. Ibid, pp. 241, 242.
57. Ellsworth Huntington, The Climatic Factor , As Illustrated
in Arid America, Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication,
no. 192 (Washington, D.C. : Carnegie Istituti-, 19 1) ,. 190.
58. Ellsworth Huntington, "Maya Civilization and Climatic
Changes," Proceedings of the XIX International Congress of
Americanists (Washington, D.C.: Congres-s ofAmericanists , 1917),
p. 160.
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Wood, Jeffrey Clark. The Classic Maya Collapse: A Review of Evidence and Interpretations, thesis, December 1977; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc504349/m1/100/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .