Theory: Location

Uxmal is situated on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico in a peculiar location. Uxmal is miles from any water sources. In its prime, this city was estimated to have had 25,000 inhabitants. The Maya developed chultunes, or cisterns, in the ground to retain their rain water and thus constantly worshipped Chaac, the god of rain, for their survival depended on it. By Uxmal’s collapse most of the population had already disappeared due to a severe draught. Despite their struggle for water, the Puuc hills have comparatively rich soil that is washed down from the hilltop forests during the rain, so the region had prosperous agriculture. The Puuc region’s lack of water also limited transportation to foot. A system of roadways created a network between Uxmal and the surrounding cities and smaller regional centers, aiding to the development of widespread commerce in the region and alliances among adjacent cities.