Chat with AIExam 10: Explanation in Archaeology
The controversial framework developed by Carl Hempel and adopted by some New Archaeologists and heavily criticized by other New Archaeologists is based on the development of universal statements and
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VerifiedE
Thomas Malthus has argued that human population tends to grow to the limit permitted by
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There are a number of theories for the Maya collapse in the 9th century AD.Discuss the evidence for a collapse,and the different hypotheses to account for it,taking into account the regional variation in the timing and nature of the collapse.
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Answered by Examlex AI CopilotThe collapse of the Maya civilization in the 9th century AD is a topic of much debate among archaeologists and historians. There are several theories and pieces of evidence that have been put forward to explain this collapse, as well as regional variations in the timing and nature of the collapse.
One piece of evidence for the collapse of the Maya civilization is the abandonment of many major cities and ceremonial centers during the 9th century. This is supported by archaeological evidence such as the lack of new construction and the presence of defensive structures in some sites. Additionally, there is evidence of a decline in population and a shift in settlement patterns during this time.
One hypothesis to account for the collapse of the Maya civilization is environmental degradation. Some researchers argue that deforestation, soil erosion, and drought may have contributed to the collapse by reducing agricultural productivity and causing food shortages. This theory is supported by evidence of environmental changes during the 9th century, such as the presence of soil erosion and the decline of certain plant species.
Another hypothesis is that the collapse was caused by political and social factors. This theory suggests that internal conflicts, warfare, and the breakdown of political and social institutions may have contributed to the collapse. Evidence for this includes the presence of defensive structures in some sites and the depiction of warfare in Maya art and inscriptions.
There is also evidence of regional variation in the timing and nature of the collapse. For example, some regions experienced a more gradual decline, while others saw a more sudden and dramatic collapse. This suggests that different factors may have been at play in different regions, such as environmental conditions, political dynamics, and interactions with neighboring societies.
In conclusion, the collapse of the Maya civilization in the 9th century AD is a complex and multifaceted event that likely involved a combination of environmental, political, and social factors. The evidence for the collapse, as well as the regional variations in its timing and nature, highlights the need for a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of this important historical event.
______________ archaeologists stress that human actions are guided by beliefs and symbolic concepts,and that the proper object of study is the structures of thought-the ideas-of the human actors who made the artifacts and created the archaeological record
(29) If,in your explanation for a cultural change (for example,the origin of the state),you stress the importance and interaction of several different factors operating at the same time,this would be considered a(n)
(35) In the 1960s,the "loss of innocence" that came with the realization that there was no well-established body of theory to underpin current archaeological methods sparked the development of
(37) Clear ethnic groups do not always stand out clearly in archaeological remains.
(32) While New Archaeology was fast to investigate social structures it was slow to explore
(28) One thing that cognitive-processual archaeologists and functional-processual archaeologists agree upon is that
(34) The argument that large-scale irrigation alone leads to urbanization is known as the
(37) The theoretical position in archaeology that nearly all archaeologists believe in and commands widespread respect is
(35) Change in the archaeological record is sometimes attributed to struggles between social classes,a result of contradictions that arise between the forces of production and the relations of production (mainly the social organization).Such an approach to understanding the past would be considered
(27) There is no difference between Marxist and neo-Marxist thought in archaeology.
(37) In contrast to the functional-processual approach that seeks to create generalizing explanation,a _________________ explanation,influenced by structuralism,critical theory,and neo-Marxist thought,favors an individualizing approach
(38) Discuss the different explanations for the origins of the state.Separate your discussion between those explanations that would be considered monocausal and those that would be considered multivariate.
(35) Ian Hodder is considered to be a ________________ archaeologist
(44) ______________ is a theoretical approach developed by the "Frankfurt School" of German social thinkers.This approach stresses that all knowledge is historical,biased communication,and thus all claims to objective knowledge are illusory
(31) Relying on a single dominant explanatory factor to account for a cultural change is known as a(n)
(36) One explanation for the emergence of state societies in the Maya lowlands is based on the lack of basic raw materials in the area,forcing the Maya to develop an intricate system of
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