The decline of the classic Mayan cities of the rainforests left the Mayan people in a state of flux.

A new life and a rebirth of their culture was on the horizon, but new lands meant new priorities,

and the Mayans had to adapt to the unusual way of life in this new landscape.

The unity of the classic Mayans had now become a thing of the past as new city-states fired for power,

creating temporary unions and confederation of local rulers.

The new city-states of the post-classic Mayans relied on trade networks to prosper,

but the fundamental spiritual and cultural identity of the Mayans was still able to be

recognised as the centuries rolled by until the fateful arrival of the Mayans was still able to be recognized as the centuries rolled by until the

fateful arrival of the Spanish gave the Mayan culture its ultimate challenge.

The History of the World podcast, written and presented by Chris Hasler.

Volume 4, The Medieval World.

Episode 88 Post Classic Maya

Music During our volume of episodes about the classical world, we discussed the classic Mayans,

and we discussed the settlements of Calacmul, Copan, Palenke and Tikal. These settlements existed

in the lowlands of Mesoamerica, which are centred on, but not restricted to, the lands of the

modern state of Guatemala.

These once thriving settlements were abandoned sometime after the 7th century and the Mayan culture

migrated northwards into the Yucatan Peninsula. It is possible that prolonged droughts in the south

led to a migration of peoples northwards.

It certainly seems to have led to violence with evidence of warfare

in and around these southern cities which suggests civil unrest,

which may have very likely been the result

...