Question

In what way do authors McAnany and Negron suggest Diamond's interpretation of Maya collapse is an attempt to retrofit the past onto the present?

A) By emphasizing the role of climate change in the Maya collapse.
B) By drawing parallels between Maya collapse and contemporary issues.
C) By highlighting the economic factors leading to the collapse.
D) By downplaying the significance of environmental factors in the collapse.

Answer 1

Authors McAnany and Negron suggest that Diamond's interpretation of the Maya collapse is an attempt to retrofit the past onto the present by downplaying the significance of environmental factors in the collapse.

Step-by-step explanation:

Authors McAnany and Negron suggest that Diamond's interpretation of the Maya collapse is an attempt to retrofit the past onto the present by D) downplaying the significance of environmental factors in the collapse.

In their book, McAnany and Negron argue that Diamond's emphasis on other factors such as political instability and warfare instead of environmental degradation is an attempt to draw parallels between the Maya collapse and contemporary issues. The authors critique Diamond's approach, stating that it oversimplifies the complex causes of the collapse and ignores the significant impact of environmental factors, like drought and deforestation, which have been supported by archaeological evidence.