[C19fan]

What is the called the Classical Period of the Mayans ended way before the Spanish came. The Mayans moved to the Central Highlands in Guatemala and those were the Mayans the Spanish encountered.

[SoCal Pubbie]

But didn’t Cortez meet a few Mayans along the coast when he landed?

[Flag_This]

As a complete amateur, my understanding is that some of the oldest Mayan towns and cities rose in Guatemala and then the Mayan civilization spread into the Yucatan. Places like Tikal and Copan were long past their heyday when cities like Chichen Itza rose to importance. And like you said, the Classic period ended a few centuries before the Spanish showed up. But the article is mistaken to suggest one drought ended the Mayan civilization.

[Sam Gamgee]

What was a mystery to me is how the Mayans, residing on porous limestone table lands managed to become so wealthy. It was totally unsuitable for agriculture, so they would have had to rely on a vibrant trading system to get the foodstuffs required.

[bert]

berts rule:

the kids moved away
the old folks died

It is still operative....... think Deetroit