/>а) изобрела колесо b) переехала в другое место с) исчезла
6. Причиной падения цивилизации майя было
a) изменение климата b) война с другим цивилизациями с) неизвестный факт
Ex. 37 Read the text about the Maya and check your answers to the quiz.
One of the great mysteries of archaeology was the sudden collapse of the Mayan Сivilisation of Central America. The disappearance of one of the great civilisations of the ancient world puzzled scientists for years, as they searched for clues among the ruined and deserted Mayan cities.
How could a sophisticated culture with its knowledge of mathematics and astronomy vanish into thin air? At its height in about 800 AD, there were probably about 13 million Mayans supporting elaborate cities with grand pyramid temples. Their lands extended from Chichen Itza on Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, through Tikal in Guatemala to Copan in Honduras. And then, almost instantly, everything collapsed.
Researchers have recently discovered that it was in fact climate change that caused the collapse of Mayan culture. It coincides directly with several periods of intense drought each lasting about a decade. The worst drought lasted between about 760 and 800 AD. Each one put more intense pressure on an already fragile civilisation.
The cities were densely populated. But they relied on corn-growing farmers who didnt produce enough to sustain both themselves and the city dwellers. Even though the Maya built reservoirs to collect water, their crops still depended on seasonal rains. Their land had few rivers, being mostly dry limestone. When the rains failed, the water for drinking and agriculture simply ran out. With few reserves and lacking what became crucial for survival, Mayan Civilisation died.
History has many exam
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