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Imagine standing atop the grand palace of Chichen Itza, gazing down at the bustling hub of a civilization that once thrived. In 889 CE, Lord K’ak’ Upakal might have done just that, unaware of the crises that lay ahead for this majestic Maya city. How did Chichen Itza rise to become the most powerful city of its time, and what led to its eventual decline?
A century before K’ak’ Upakal's reign, warfare and failing agriculture forced the Maya people to abandon numerous Central American settlements. This diaspora shifted the center of their civilization north to the hotter, drier Yucatan Peninsula. By the early 800s, cities like Chichen Itza, Izamal, and Uxmal began to expand. But Yucatan posed its own challenges, with scarce surface water and limestone bedrock that rapidly absorbed rain. Many cities turned to cisterns to collect rainwater, but Chichen Itza had a unique advantage.
What made Chichen Itza different from other cities? Its surroundings were dotted with sinkholes, revealing an abundant supply of fresh groundwater. This access to fresh water allowed Chichen Itza to survive the severe drought that gripped Yucatan in the early 900s, propelling it to become the most powerful Maya city. Its population swelled as people immigrated from far and wide, reaching an estimated 50,000 at its peak.
How did Chichen Itza maintain such a large population in an unpredictable environment? The city's government evolved after K’ak’ Upakal's death, shifting from a monarchical system to a more flexible one that included ruling councils of the city's elite. Unlike traditional Maya kings who engaged in destructive wars and costly monuments, the new rulers focused on economic growth. They leveraged the city's military might to establish long-distance trade and political dominance, transforming Chichen Itza into a bustling economic hub.
What were the economic drivers of Chichen Itza? Its inhabitants crafted tools and ornaments from obsidian, gold, copper, turquoise, and jade sourced from across Central and North America. They traded food, textiles, feathers, minerals, and metals, sometimes using cacao beans as currency. Seafood from the coast supplemented the city's staple crops, ensuring its sustenance.
Farming was crucial to Chichen Itza's survival, and its architecture and religious practices reflected this importance. The city's citizens built a vast platform to support new temples, pyramids, altars, ballcourts, and colonnades, all aligned with celestial bodies and agricultural cycles. The round temple, for instance, was carefully aligned to mark solstices, equinoxes, and the passing of the planet Venus, an avatar of K’uk’ulkan, the feathered serpent god.
How did religion shape Chichen Itza's identity? K’uk’ulkan became the central deity, transforming the city into a religious pilgrimage site. The stepped pyramid and temple dedicated to K’uk’ulkan featured 365 steps, each representing a day in the solar year. During equinoxes, the setting sun cast snake-like shadows down the balustrades, evoking the serpent god. The city's architecture also included representations of Flower Mountain, the sacred paradise realm inhabited by gods and ancestors.
Chichen Itza's golden age, however, was not destined to last forever. An intense drought struck around 1020 CE, lasting nearly a century. Despite offerings to rain deities in nearby caves and sinkholes, the city couldn't withstand the extended drought. The population plummeted, and many resettled on the coast. The new city of Mayapan emerged as the principal city of Yucatan, replacing Chichen Itza.
Yet, Chichen Itza was never fully abandoned or forgotten. When the Spanish arrived centuries later, it remained a small, local capital. Its original name was preserved, and its ancient stone constructions still stand as a testament to the Maya people's ingenuity and resilience.
What lessons can we learn from Chichen Itza's rise and fall? Its story serves as a reminder of the importance of sustainable practices and the need to adapt to changing environments. Chichen Itza's legacy continues to inspire awe and curiosity, a beacon of a civilization's辉煌 past and enduring spirit.
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