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Classic Maya urbanism wasn’t simply about drought. Research shows climate downturns and conflict incentivized rural farmers to seek refuge and economic opportunity in cities, where concentrated agriculture offered advantages. However, this urban draw was contingent on rural hardship. When conditions in the countryside improved, offering greater autonomy and quality of life, people migrated away from the costly and crowded urban centers. This suggests a dynamic push-and-pull relationship between rural and urban environments, highlighting a more nuanced understanding of Maya urban growth and decline beyond just environmental factors.
