Archaeology Essay Question

Archaeology Essay Question

Climate change has emerged as one of the most important issues facing modern society. Robust debate continues on its potential impacts on agriculture, coastal cities, population movements, and ultimately the stability and wellbeing of global society. Archaeology provides a unique perspective on this issue, by analyzing similar processes in the past. Throughout human existence, climate has changed – sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly – and people have had to react. Most dramatically, climate change has often been linked to the collapse of past societies around the world, with the ancient Maya being a particularly well-studied example. For this essay, answer the question “did climate change cause the collapse of Classic Maya society?” In the essay, consider not just climate, but also one other factor such as warfare or deforestation, and argue for or against climate change being the most important factor in the demise of Classic Maya society.

Peer reviewed journal article:

Douglas, Peter M.J., Arthur A. Demarest, Mark Brenner, and Marcello A. Canuto. 2016. Impacts of Climate Change on the Collapse of Lowland Maya Civilization. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Volume 44, pp. 613-645.

Popular article:

Wylie Robin. 2016. Severe Droughts Explain the Mysterious Fall of the Maya:  http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160222-severe-droughts-explain-the-mysterious-fall-of-the-maya