The example of societal collapse that I will refer to throughout this essay is the Mayan civilization. The Mayan civilization is "probably the best known of all the early American civilizations." (Fagan, 1995) It reached its peak between 300 and 900 AD. Around 900 AD was the time of its collapse. This civilization developed in dense rainforest, either in the highlands or lowlands. Today, to visit a Mayan site, people would travel to the modern Mexican state, the capital Mérida. This site was once home to "the most advanced Native American civilization in the New World before the arrival of Europeans." (Diamond, 2009) Over the years, many predictions have been made about the causes of the collapse of the Mayan civilization. Currently, the most recent cause put forward by geographers and scientists is that climate change may have had a major impact on this collapse. The rainfall received during the creation of the civilization is said to have been a key factor in the continued life of the Mayans. This and the addition of societal factors such as religious beliefs, ethnicity and education have all impacted their lifestyle and societal well-being. The art and architecture formed by the Maya form the foundation of the work of archaeologists today. They examine these features and the ruins of buildings created to depict the kind of lifestyle they lived. Examining the art and architecture of a specific civilization or community from the past is just one way that can help inform future adaptations. Another way the Europeans received information about the collapse was by sending geographers and researchers shortly after the collapse to gather as much data and information... middle of paper ... their houses) and erosion. In a cultural and political context, there was a competition between kings and nobles over who led civilization through war and other events requiring military forces. Works CitedDiamond, Jared M. (2005) “The Maya Collapses.” Collapse: How societies choose to fail or succeed. New York: Viking, 157-77.Fagan, Brian M. (2001) “Mesoamerican Civilizations.” The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Ancient World: Unveiling the Secrets of New York's Past Civilizations. : Thames & Hudson, 491-509.Lhote, H., Summers, R., Kirwan, LP and Watson, W. (1963) Vanished Civilizations London: Thames & Hudson.Mott, N. (2012) Why the Mayans Fell . : Climate change, conflicts – and a trip to the beach? [online]Available at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/11/121109-maya-civilization-climate-change-belize-science/ (Accessed: October 28 2013)