Question

Jared Diamond argues that the Maya underwent collapse while McAnany and Negrón suggest a different outcome. What was the primary disagreement between their perspectives?

A) Environmental factors contributing to collapse
B) Sociopolitical organization of the Maya society
C) Technological advancements during the period
D) Trade relationships with neighboring civilizations

Answer 1

Jared Diamond and McAnany and Negrón's main disagreement is over whether the Maya experienced a total collapse or a transformation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary disagreement between Jared Diamond and McAnany and Negrón in their perspectives on the collapse of the Maya civilization centers around the outcome and interpretation of what happened to the Classic Maya culture.

Diamond suggests that the Maya civilization underwent a complete collapse, mainly due to environmental and other contributing factors, leading to the rapid deterioration of their society around 900 CE. \

On the other hand, McAnany and Negrón argue for a different outcome, proposing that while the civilization did undergo significant transformations, it was not a total collapse but a period of political decentralization and change, with the Maya people continuing to thrive in different forms long after the Classic period had ended.

More specifically, Diamond looks at factors such as deforestation, soil erosion, and climate variability as critical in contributing to the Maya's downfall.

Alternatively, McAnany and Negrón suggest that following the end of the Classic period, the Maya adapted and continued to live in the Yucatán Peninsula, experiencing a rebirth that persisted into the sixteenth century despite the upheavals of the Classic period's end.