Final answer:
Charles C. Mann argues that environmental degradation, amplified by other factors like climate change and disease, played a significant role in the collapse of the Maya and likely had similar effects on the Cahokia civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charles C. Mann discusses the role of ecological factors in the collapse of ancient civilizations, including the Maya and Cahokia. For the Classical Maya civilization, which fell into decline in the ninth century CE, Mann suggests environmental degradation among potential causes such as natural disasters, epidemic diseases, and political turmoil. This decline involved a rapid deterioration of urban centers and the production of goods ceased. Similar ecological factors may have contributed to the collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization, where environmental degradation, compounded by climate change and possibly disease, made societies vulnerable to external threats. In the case of Cahokia, Mann's argument would likely emphasize the role of environmental factors in the decline of this ancient city. The complex interaction between human societies and their ecosystems is a recurring theme when analyzing the fall of civilizations. Factors such as resource exploitation, changes in climate, and the impacts of agriculture on the environment are often highlighted as significant contributors to the collapse of these complex societies.