Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-4rdrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-03T03:10:52.607Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Fall of Chichen Itza: A Preliminary Hypothesis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Anthony P. Andrews
Anthony P. Andrews*
Affiliation:
Division of Social Sciences, New College of the University of South Florida, Sarasota, FL 34243
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The fall of the Early Postclassic capital of Chichen Itza is generally described in native chronicles as the result of a widespread revolt of native Yucatec Maya against the Itzá rulers of northern Yucatan. This historic event was the outcome of complex social, economic, and ecological processes that ultimately led to the weakening and dissolution of the Itzá polity. The historic legends that trace the fall of the Itzá are a superficial manifestation of deeper problems, which likely included tense relations with subjugated peoples, excess economic and human tribute, overpopulation, scarcities of land and agricultural resources, and possible climatological changes resulting in drought. The Itzá economy was linked to all these processes, but as they primarily were focused on the exploitation of coastal resources and long-distance trade, they failed to establish a viable economic system in the interior. This failure, coupled with the overexploitation of a declining social and economic resource base, led to the Itzá collapse. This essay presents a preliminary discussion of these processes.

La caída de la capital de Chichén Itzá en el Postclásico Temprano es comúnmente descrita en las fuentes indígenas como el resultado de una sublevación regional en contra del liderazgo itzá del norte de Yucatán. Este evento histórico fue la culminación de complejos procesos sociales, económicos, y ecológicos que llevaron al debilitamiento y disolución del estado itzá. Las leyendas históricas que trazan la caída de los itzá resultan ser una manifestación superficial de problemas más serios, que incluyen relaciones problemáticas con los pueblos subyugados, exceso de tributo económico y humano, sobrepoblación, escasez de tierra y recursos agrícolas, y posibles perturbaciones climatológicas acompañadas de sequías. La economía itzá estaba ligada a estos procesos; dependientes en gran parte de recursos costeros y comercio con el exterior, los itzaes no lograron imponer un nuevo orden económico viable en el interior. Esta falla, unida a la sobreexplotación de los menguados recursos sociales y económicos, llevó al colapso itzá. Este ensayo presenta una discusión preliminar de estos procesos.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 1 , Issue 3 , September 1990 , pp. 258 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Andrews, A. P. 1978 Puertos costeros del Postclásico Temprano en el norte de Yucatán. Estudios de Cultura Maya XI:75–93.Google Scholar
Andrews, A. P. 1983 Ancient Maya Salt Production and Trade. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.Google Scholar
Andrews, A. P., Asaro, F., Michel, H. V., Stress, F. H., and Cervera Rivero, P. 1989 The Obsidian Trade at Isla Cerritos, Yucatan, Mexico. Journal of Field Archaeology 16:355–363.Google Scholar
Andrews, A. P., and Gallareta Negrón, T. 1986 The Isla Cerritos Archaeological Project, Yucatan, Mexico. Mexicon VIII:44–48.Google Scholar
Andrews, A. P., Gallareta Negrón, T., and Cobos Palma, R. 1989 Preliminary Report of the Cupul Survey Project. Mexicon XI:91–95.Google Scholar
Andrews, A. P., Gallareta Negrón, T., Robles Castellanos, F., Cobos Palma, R., and Cervera Rivero, P. 1988 Isla Cerritos: An Itzá Trading Port on the North Coast of Yucatan, Mexico. National Geographic Research, 4:196–207.Google Scholar
Andrews, A. P., and Robles Castellanos, F. 1985 Chichen Itza and Coba: An Itza-Maya Standoff in Early Postclassic Yucatan. In The Lowland Maya Postclassic, edited by A. F. Chase and P. M. Rice, pp. 62–72. University of Texas Press, Austin.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrews, E. W. V., and Sabloff, J. A. 1986 Classic to Postclassic: A Summary Discussion. In Late Lowland Maya Civilization: Classic to Post-classic, edited by J. A. Sabloff and E. W. Andrews V, pp. 433–456. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Ball, J. W. 1974 A Coordinate Approach to Northern Maya Prehistory: 700–1000 A.D. American Antiquity, 39:85–93.Google Scholar
Barrera Vásquez, A. (director) 1980 Diccionario maya Cordemex. Ediciones Cordemex, Mérida.Google Scholar
Bricker, V. R. 1981 The Indian Christ, the Indian King. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Cardós de Méndez, A. 1959 El comercio de los mayas antiguos. Acta Anthropológica, Epoca 2, Vol. 2, No. 1. Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia, México.Google Scholar
Carr, H. S. 1989 Patterns of Exploitation and Exchange of Subsistence Goods in Late Classic-Early Postclassic Yucatan: A Zooarchaeological Perspective. Paper presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Atlanta.Google Scholar
Cobos Palma, R. 1987 Shelling In: Marine MoUusca at Chichen Itza. Paper presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Toronto.Google Scholar
Dahlin, B. H. 1988 An Ecological Approach to Northern Plains Archaeology. Ms. on file, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Howard University, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Davoust, M. 1980 Les premiers chefs mayas de Chichén Itzá. Mexicon 11:25–29.Google Scholar
de Lizana, B. 1988 [1633] Historia de Yucatán. Crónicas de América, 43. Historia 16, Madrid.Google Scholar
Dunning, N. P. 1989 Archaeological Investigations at Sayil, Yucatan, Mexico: Intersite Reconnaissance and Soil Studies during the 1987 Field Season. Anthropological Papers No. 2. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.Google Scholar
Edmonson, M. S. 1982 The Ancient Future of the Itza. The Book ofChilam Balam of Tizimin. Translated and annotated by M. S. Edmonson. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Edmonson, M. S. 1985 The First Chronicle of Yucatan (692–1848). In Fifth Palenque Round Table, 1983, edited by V. M. Fields, pp. 193–209. The Palenque Round Table Series, vol. VII. Pre-Colombian Art Research Institute, San Francisco.Google Scholar
Edmonson, M. S. 1986 Heaven Born Merida and Its Destiny. The Book ofChilam Balam of Chumayel. Translated and annotated by M. S. Edmonson. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Folan, W. J., Gunn, J., Eaton, J. D., and Patch, R. W. 1983 Paleoclimatological Patterning in Southern Mesoamerica. Journal of Field Archaeology 10:453–468.Google Scholar
Fox, J. W. 1987 Maya Postclassic State Formation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Fox, J. W. 1989 On the Rise and Fall of Tuláns and Maya Segmentary States. American Anthropologist 91:656–681.Google Scholar
Freidel, D. A. 1986a Terminal Classic Lowland Maya: Successes, Failures and Aftermaths. In Late Lowland Maya Civilization, edited by J. A. SablofF and E. W. Andrews V, pp. 409–430. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Freidel, D. A. 1986b Yaxuna Archaeological Survey. A Report of the 1986 Field Season. Report submitted to the Committee for Research and Exploration, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. Copies available from the author.Google Scholar
Freidel, D. A., and Schele, L. 1989 Tlaloc-Venus Warfare and the Triumph of Confederacy at Chichen Itza. Paper presented at the 54th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Atlanta.Google Scholar
Henderson, J. S. 1981 The World of the Ancient Maya. Cornell University Press, Ithaca.Google Scholar
Kowalski, J. K. 1985 Lords of the Northern Maya: Dynastic History in the Inscriptions of Uxmal and Chichen Itza. Expedition 27(3):50–60.Google Scholar
Krochock, R. J. 1988 The Hieroglyphic Inscriptions and Iconography of Temple of the Four Lintels and Related Monuments, Chichen Itza, Yucatan. Unpublished Master’s thesis, Department of Anthropology, University of Texas, Austin.Google Scholar
Kubler, G. 1985 Pre-Columbian Pilgrimages in Mesoamerica. In Fourth Palenque Round Table, edited by E. P. Benson, pp. 313–316. The Palenque Round Table Series, vol. VI. The Pre-Columbian Art Research Institute, San Francisco.Google Scholar
Kurjack, E. B. 1988 On the Toltec Invasion. Mesoamerica. Winter 1988:31–35.Google Scholar
Lincoln, C. E. 1983 Chichén Itzá: Clásico Terminal o Postcáasico Temprano? Boletín de la Escuela de Ciencias Antropológicas de la Vniversidad de Yucatán 10(59):3–29. Merida.Google Scholar
Lincoln, C. E. 1986 The Chronology of Chichen Itza: A Review of the Literature. In Late Lowland Maya Civilization: Classic to Postclassic, edited by J. A. Sabloff and E. W. Andrews V, pp. 141–96. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Lincoln, C. E. 1988 Dual Kingship at Chichen Itza. Paper presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Phoenix.Google Scholar
Miller, A. G. 1977 “Captains of the Itza:” Unpublished Mural Evidence from Chichen Itza. In Social Process in Maya Prehistory, edited by N. Hammond, pp. 197–225. Academic Press, London.Google Scholar
Mills, L. (editor) 1979 The Puuc: New Perspectives. Scholarly Studies in the Liberal Arts No. 1. Central College, Pella, Iowa.Google Scholar
Morley, S. G., Brainerd, G. W., and Sharer, R. J. 1983 The Ancient Maya. 4th ed. Stanford University Press, Stanford.Google Scholar
Nelson, F. W. 1985 Summary of Results of Analysis of Obsidian Artifacts from the Maya Lowlands. Scanning Electron Microscopy/1985/II:631–649. SEM, Chicago.Google Scholar
Relaciones de Yucatán 1898 In Colección de documentos inéditos relativos al descubrimiento, conquista y organización de las antiguas posesiones españolas de ultramar. 2nd Series, vols. 2 (RY I) and 13 (RY II). Sucesores de Rivadeneyra, Madrid.Google Scholar
Ringle, W. M., and Bey, G. J. III 1988 Preliminary Report of the Ek Balam Project. Report submitted to the Centro Regional de Yucatán, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Merida. Copies available from the authors.Google Scholar
Robles Castellanos, F., and Andrews, A. P. 1986 A Review and Synthesis of Recent Postclassic Archaeology in Northern Yucatan. In Late Lowland Maya Civilization: Classic to Postclassic, edited by J. A. Sabloff and E. W. Andrews V, pp. 53–98. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Roys, R. L. 1933 The Book ofChilam Balam of Chumayel. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 505. Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Roys, R. L. 1943 The Indian Background of Colonial Yucatan. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 548. Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Roys, R. L. 1954 The Maya Katun Prophecies ofthe Books of Chilam Balam, Series I. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 606, Contribution 57, pp. 1–60. Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Roys, R. L. 1962 Literary Sources for the History of Mayapan. In Mayapan, Yucatan, Mexico, by H. E. D. Pollock, R. L. Roys, T. Proskouriakoff, and A. L. Smith, pp. 25–86. Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 619. Washington, D.C.Google Scholar
Roys, R. L. 1966 Native Empires in Yucatan: The Maya-Toltec Empire, Revista Mexicana de Estudios Antropológicos 20:153–177.Google Scholar
Sabloff, J. A. 1990 The New Archaeology and the Ancient Maya. W. H. Freeman, New York.Google Scholar
Sabloff, J. A., and Andrews V, E. W. (editors) 1986 Late Lowland Maya Civilization: Classic to Postclassic. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Sahlins, M. 1981 Historical Metaphors and Mythical Realities. Structure in the Early History ofthe Sandwich Islands Kingdom. Special Publication No. 1. Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor.Google Scholar
Scheie, L., and Freidel, D. A. 1990 A Forest of Kings. Royal Histories ofthe Ancient Maya. William Morrow, New York.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. E. S. 1966 The Rise and Fall of Maya Civilization. 2nd ed. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. E. S. 1970 Maya History and Religion. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Tozzer, A. M. 1941 Landa’s Relación de las cosas de Yucatán. Papers ofthe Peabody Museum of American Archaeology and Ethnology Vol. 18. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Thompson, J. E. S. 1957 Chichen Itza and its Cenote of Sacrifice. A Comparative Study of Contemporaneous Maya and Toltec. Memoirs of the Peabody Museum XI and XII. Harvard University, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Wren, L. H. 1989 Composition and Content in Maya Sculpture: A Study of Ballgame Scenes at Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico. In Ethnographic Encounters in Southern Mesoamerica: Essays in Honor ofEvon Zartman Vogt, Jr., edited by V. R. Bricker and G. H. Gossen, pp. 287–301. Studies in Culture and Society Vol. 3. Institute for Mesoamerican Studies, State University of New York, Albany.Google Scholar
Wren, L. H., and Schmidt, P. J. 1986 Elite Interaction during the Terminal Classic Period: New Evidence from Chichen Itza. Paper presented at the School of American Research Advanced Seminar, “Elite Interaction in Classic Maya Civilization,” Santa Fe.Google Scholar