Lessons from the Past:  Cultural Collapse and Decline

There is a natural progression in which civilizations rise, and in many cases expand their influence over surrounding areas, only to constrict geographically and in some cases collapse entirely. The causes of collapse are many: foreign invasion, climate change, environmental degradation, natural disasters, warfare, famine and even pandemics. They often leave behind abandoned settlements and cities with architectural remains and artifacts. View examples from Mesoamerica, South America, and the region ranging from Northern Mexico to the American Southwest that shed some light on the delicate balance between people and place and how easy it is to tip the scales.