Page 57 - Reading Success B8

We have witnessed the rise and fall of many civilizations throughout history,
such as the Mayan and the Aztec empires of ancient Latin America, which
flourished and subsequently collapsed. Scientists have long been fascinated with
the rich heritage of these civilizations, what brought them down, and if their

decline was gradual or rapid.
The Mayan empire once thrived in the rain forests of Guatemala. They had vast
cities, ornate temples, and towering pyramids. Around 900 A.D., their population
reached an average of 500 people per square mile in rural areas, and more than
2,000 people per square mile in the cities. This vibrant period of Mayan

civilization lasted for six centuries, which scientists today attribute to the Mayans’
use of drainage and irrigation canals. However, the prosperity did not last forever
and ultimately the empire collapsed. Recent studies have found that the fall of the
Mayans was not abrupt. About 1,200 years before the civilization’s collapse, the
region became almost completely deforested, hence erosion became worse and
carried away fertile topsoil. This, in turn, raised the temperature of the region

significantly, which caused drought that made it very difficult to raise crops. Under
these conditions, many Mayans suffered and died from severe malnutrition.
The Aztec empire, on the other hand, ruled much of what is now known as
Mexico. This society also built great cities and developed a complex social,

political, and religious structure. Their capital, Tenochtitlan, an elaborate
metropolis built on islands and reclaimed marshland, was possibly the largest city
in the world at the time. It had a huge temple complex, a royal palace, and
numerous canals. Much like the Mayans, the Aztec population expanded as their
empire grew. To support their growing number, the Aztec developed irrigation
systems, formed terraces on hillsides, and used fertilizer to enrich the soil. Their
most important agricultural technique, however, was the chinampas or artificial

garden islands reclaimed from swampy lands. In 1519, Spanish explorers landed
in eastern Mexico in search of land and gold. Finding large amounts of gold and
other treasures in the region, the Spaniards engaged the Aztecs in a series of
bloodbaths to conquer it, which ultimately destroyed the civilization.

Main Idea

What is the main idea of this story?

a. the superiority of Aztec culture over Mayan culture
b. what caused the Aztec society to fail

c. the decline of both the Aztec and the Mayan empires
d. what might cause an empire to fall

60_Reading Success B 8