The Disastrous Maya Collapse Knocked Down an Entire Network of Cities in Mesoamerica

Learn what caused a major population crash in the Maya civilization, driving several cities to fall into ruin.

Jack Knudson
ByJack Knudson

Nov 26, 2025, 4:30 PM



Ancient Maya city, Uxmal.(Image Credit: Lev Levin/Shutterstock)

In a span of over 3,000 years, the Maya civilization broke ground in astronomy, architecture, and mathematics. But despite being so rich in advancements, this Mesoamerican culture experienced some major bumps along the way. The most disruptive turning point came at the tail end of the Maya golden age, when populations plummeted and dynasties crumbled.

A new study published in Biogeosciences has found a twist to help explain why the Classic Maya period came to such a tumultuous end between 750 and 900 C.E. While it’s believed that drought caused the downfall of many Maya cities, the archaeological site of Itzan in modern-day Guatemala tells a different story; this city maintained a stable climate, but was still roped into the chaos because of its link to other struggling cities.

The Demise of the Maya Golden Age

During the Classic Period of the Maya civilization (from 250 to 900 C.E.), cities flourished and innovations abounded. This is when the Maya truly made their mark on Mesoamerican history, developing writing systems, astronomical calendars, and public architecture.

But by 750 C.E., trouble was on the horizon. Droughts began to hit cities across the Maya Lowlands, a historical region that today encompasses Guatemala, southeastern Mexico, and parts of Belize and Honduras. This climate crisis brought political turbulence, leading people to abandon cities as populations shifted northward.

The Maya civilization entered a Post-Classic period following this episode of turmoil. Although this era continued for several more centuries, it was marked by gradual decline until the last remaining city fell to Spanish colonizers in 1697.

More:
https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-disastrous-maya-collapse-knocked-down-an-entire-network-of-cities-in-mesoamerica-48320