This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Abroad from the KU Centers for East Asian Studies and Latin American and Caribbean Studies.

The Maya civilization flourished in Southern Mexico and Northern Central America between 200 B.C.E. and 900 C.E. For centuries, scholars have celebrated that civilization’s achievements and speculated about its mysterious decline, a decline so steep, that many believe there must have been a major catastrophe. Theories abound: invasion, civil war, collapsing trade routes. There has been little agreement. Until now. A recent region-wide analysis of climate records confirms that the Maya decline coincides with not one, but two periods of severe drought. The first came in the 9th century. The second, and by far the worst, came in the 11th century. Though the Mayan people survived, the effects of climate change combined with deforestation and a super consumption lifestyle caused the city-states to collapse. Hello? Consumer society? History calling!

With thanks to Danika Swanson for this text, from the KU Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.