"The Americas" Introduction Thousands of years ago, the first people arrived in the Americas. The Maya, Aztec, Inca, and many other Native American cultures flourished in North and South America. As you've learned in this chapter, these civilizations fell. We know that some, like the Aztec and Inca, fell to Spanish invaders. Others, like the Maya, left little evidence to help us determine the cause of their decline. In this activity, you will learn the reasons why civilizations decline. You will work as an archaeologist to uncover the reasons behind the collapse of Copán, a once-thriving center of the Maya civilization.
Visit the Annenberg/CPB feature titled "Collapse: Why Do Civilizations Fall?" to begin your adventure.
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