"The demise of the Maya civilization: Water shortage can..." Topic

…destroy cultures.

"Something really drastic must have happened to end the Classic Maya Period in the 9th Century. Within a short period of time, this advanced civilisation in Central America went from flourishing to collapsing -- the population dwindling rapidly and monumental stone structures, like the ones built at Yucatán, were no longer being constructed. The reason for this demise remains the subject of debate even today. Model calculations by TU Wien may have found the explanation: the irrigation technology that served the Mayans well during periods of drought may have actually made their society more vulnerable to major catastrophes.

The lessons learnt may also help us to draw important conclusions for our own future. We need to be careful with our natural resources -- if technical measures simply deal with the shortage of resources on a superficial level and we do not adjust our own behaviour, society is left vulnerable…"
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Ammicalement
Armand

Of course it couldn't have been due to inter-city-state warfare, because we KNOW the Maya were a peace loving people. NOT!

This theory first surfaced in the 1920's, when it was claimed that the Maya were super-peaceful, not practicing warfare – or human sacrifice, either, in contrast to the nasty Aztecs, etc. Unfortunately for that image, Michael Coe and others began deciphering Maya inscriptions in the 1990's and found the exact opposite to be the truth.

It's still the most likely cause of their demise. Massive change in climate re-drew the face of south and central America.
The Chimu of the Peruvian desert had their society changed from one of agrarian desert dwellers to aggressive land conquerors as a result of severe climate change.
South America has a lot of interesting facts to reveal in the next few decades.

Saw a documentary somewhere that it was a prolonged drought. Even their cisterns went dry. There was mention of the Quetzacoatle (sp) warrior religion, however ?

Warfare usually just replaces one culture with the next, unless the environment is already at a state that only horticulture keeps it arable.

Is there any large state in antiquity that has neighbors and wasn't the result of warfare or conquest? I can't think of one

And of course the lesson learned is as always "we have to adjust our own behavior" because we are the worst people who ever lived. BTW, welcome back, Armand.