The first article examines “the diverse social landscape of different individuals who supported the Maya Kingdom” (Fash 255). According to the author, Copan City was at the center of the Maya kingdom. The people of Maya embraced various activities such as art. The people of Copan produced many stone sculptures and architectural structures.
The author uses numerous arguments to explain how the people of Copan embraced new economic activities. The people migrated to the city in an attempt to redefine their lifestyles. Historians have identified a number of economic practices, feasts, and public ceremonies that attracted more people to Copan. The “alluvial bottomlands encouraged more individuals to settle in this city” (Fash 256).
The region also experienced enormous population expansions. This development made the city unsustainable. The available pieces of land could no longer support the city’s population. New practices such as agriculture led to soil erosion and deforestation. This development made Copan City incapable of supporting its population.
The founding of the Acropolis was critical towards redefining the history of the Maya people. This approach produced new temples, ball-courts, and administrative buildings. Some of these buildings embraced the use of stone art. Every ruler supported this kingdom. Most of “the rulers were called Classic Kings” (Fash 256).
These rulers promoted different economic activities. Majority of these kings made Copan “the home of many architects, sculptors, and artisans” (Fash 257). One of these leaders was Ruler 12. The author’s approach informs more individuals about the facts surrounding this kingdom.
The author also gives the best evidences about the achievements of different Mayan Kings. Most of these rulers built different structures in an attempt to redefine the history of Copan. For example, Ruler 12 constructed alters while Ruler 12 produced different architectural structures. Ruler 15 used his abilities to complete the famous Hieroglyphic Stairway. The last king of Copan was Yax Pasah.
This leader used the best ideas to produce more altars. Such structures were relevant towards making Copan a beautiful city. The author goes further to explain how “most of the above structures, sculptures, monuments, palaces, and temples failed to survive after Yax Pasah’s death” (Fash 256). The people destroyed the above temples after Pasah’s death.
The establishment of the middle class during the period made Copan City unsustainable. This problem is also evident in our world today. The author believes strongly that the planners of Copan City had failed. According to the author, “the founders of this dynasty created a major problem for every future generation” (Fash 258). The city’s future generations were unable to realize their potentials (Fash 257).
The people could not produce enough food for their families. The available land was unable to support different agricultural practices. The people deforested different regions in an attempt to get firewood. This new development was critical towards destroying the economy of Copan. The death of Yax Pasah also opened a new wave of destruction.
This article gives the best ideas about the rise and fall of Copan City. This city was critical to the economy of the ancient Maya Kingdom. I strongly believe that the historical discussions identified by Fash are meaningful. The author presents useful concepts towards understanding the dangers of different human activities. Our society must always address the issues that might affect its future.
The problem of climate change continues to affect the world today (Fash 258). Every society should use the best ideas in order to support its future generations. I will read more articles in order to understand why different kingdoms fail or collapse. The gathered ideas will encourage more people to safeguard their surrounding environments.
The second article offers similar ideas about Copan. The narrator of the article describes his journey in an attempt to uncover the issues surrounding the Mayan civilization. According to the author, the first impression of Copan did not match with its historical facts.
Majority of the people in the region were not living the best lives. This fact explains how “the collapse of the kingdom affected the lives of many people” (Stephens 472). The article gives a powerful image of this historical city. The author explains why the city was once a classical civilization. The Mayan civilization developed at a time when the world was in darkness.
After visiting the ruins, the narrator “observed how different sculptures, architectural designs, and paintings beautified the lives of many people in Copan” (Stephens 474). It is agreeable that “Copan City produced many political leaders, orators, and warriors” (Stephens 473).
However, the beauty and glory of Copan eventually collapsed because of poor planning. The article also describes how different historians have continued to ignore the history of the Mayan Kingdom (Stephens 479).
The author describes the present appearance of Copan. According to the article, only a few ruins and buildings are evident to describe the greatness of this civilization. The article also describes most of the sculptures, monuments, and palaces found in this region. However, most of the above structures were in ruins. This narration supports the issues associated with the Mayan civilization.
The people of Copan worked hard to produce different sculptures, idols, temples, and altars. The author believes that “the rows of hieroglyphics document the fabulous history of the Mayan civilization” (Stephens 483). The article gives numerous arguments and evidences to support the strengths of this kingdom.
The article goes further to describe the potential factors that might have destroyed the Mayan civilization. According to the author, the city was definitely a magnificent place during the time. This analysis explains why the kingdom embraced the best developments and ideas. The people embraced new practices in an attempt to improve their living conditions.
The author believes strongly that the civilization disappeared after a major natural disaster. Something like “cholera or pestilence must have destroyed the Maya Kingdom” (Stephens 485). This single fact encourages people to analyze different issues that can destroy every population. This knowledge can be critical towards addressing the challenges affecting humanity today.
The article uses effective ideas and concepts in an attempt to support the superiority of the Maya Kingdom. The people embraced the best practices in order to create the biggest civilization.
Most of the ruins in Copan say a lot about the Maya Kingdom. Many sculptures, monuments, and altars in the region inform the world about the strengths of this ancient civilization. The evidences observed in Copan supports the existence of the Maya Kingdom (Stephens 489).
According to the author, a major disaster must have played a critical role towards destroying this great civilization. This article offers useful ideas towards addressing the issues affecting our world. The author also encourages historians and analysts to conduct numerous studies in order to understand this civilization much better.
The approach will produce better concepts that can protect our modern civilization from different calamities (Stephens 489). The author offers reliable arguments to the reader. People should therefore read more books and articles in an attempt to understand this civilization much better.
Works Cited
Fash, William. “Copan.” Copan: The History of an Ancient Maya Kingdom. Ed. Wyllys Andrews and William Fash. New York: School of American Research, 2005. 255-259. Print.
Stephens, John. “Chapter Two.” Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan. Ed. Karl Ackerman and John Stephens. London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 2009. 466-492. Print.