Why did Mayan culture falter?

• A. Disease and famine
• B. Drought and climate change
• C. War, overpopulation, resources
• D. Invasion by outsiders

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is that the Classic Maya collapse came from a combination of internal pressures rather than one single outside force. Warfare among rival city-states strained political systems and disrupted agriculture and trade. At the same time, growing populations put more pressure on limited farmland, water, and other resources, leading to resource depletion and environmental stress. When these factors coincided with droughts or climate stress, the result was a breakdown of food production, governance, and long-distance exchange, causing major cities to abandon their centers and social structures to crumble.

So this explanation—war, overpopulation, and resource strain—captures how interconnected failures in politics, population pressure, and ecological limits weakened Maya society from the inside. Invasion by outsiders isn’t supported by the overall pattern of Maya decline, and while drought did strain conditions, the strongest, most complete account emphasizes the combination of internal pressures rather than a single external cause. Disease and famine on their own aren’t viewed as the primary driver of the collapse.