New Discoveries Rewrite Maya History | Rise and Fall of the Maya MEGA Episode | National Geographic

What actually happened to the ancient Maya? Mysteries unfold in this four episode Rise and Fall of the Maya Mega Episode compilation from National Geographic. Journey where the Maya lived in Mexico and Guatemala as archaeologists and historians uncover new evidence that rewrites what we know about this fascinating and mysterious ancient civilization. From the monumental discovery of a 3,000-year-old hidden megastructure to the puzzling, catastrophic collapse that forced millions to abandon their pyramid-filled cities, explore the origins of Maya power, secrets, and resilience in this documentary series. Featuring full episodes: Origins - 00:00 What is Aguada Fénix? In June 2020, scientists discover Aguada Fénix, a monumental 3,000-year-old Maya structure. Uncover the hidden secrets of Aguada Fénix, the oldest monument built by the ancient Maya civilization, dating back to around 1000 BCE, that challenge everything we knew about the Maya's earliest days. Civilization - 44:03 New architectural and technological evidence unearthed in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula transforms long-held ideas about how the Maya civilization grew into a superpower. Collapse - 01:28:06 Why did the ancient Maya civilization collapse? Many cities were abandoned due to a complex combination of severe droughts, overpopulation, deforestation, and warfare. The exact series of events that lead the ancient Maya to abandon their pyramid-filled cities has long puzzled archaeologists. Now, new investigations in Mexico and Guatemala are exposing surprising evidence about why these great monuments were deserted. Resilience - 02:12:09 Archaeologists unearth new clues about the resurgence of the ancient Maya civilization and the devastating events that would ultimately lead them to abandon their cities for good. Investigations also reveal evidence of extreme resilience in the face of catastrophe. The Rise and Fall of the Maya | S1 Explore the World with National Geographic subscriptions: https://natgeo.com/ytngmagazine ➡ Subscribe: https://on.natgeo.com/4p5A0D6 ➡ Get more Nat Geo Full Episodes: https://on.natgeo.com/3V5ZfHI ➡ Get wild with Nat Geo Animals Full Episodes: https://on.natgeo.com/3V2EOLO And check out more National Geographic series and specials here: ➡ Disney Plus: https://on.natgeo.com/3q6on5p ➡ Hulu: https://on.natgeo.com/3Qor0Ko ➡ NGTV: https://natgeo.com/tv ➡ ABC: https://abc.com #NationalGeographic #RiseAndFallOfTheMaya #MegaEpisode About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for critically acclaimed storytelling around science and exploration. Discover amazing wildlife, ancient civilizations, hidden worlds, and the incredible wonders of our Earth. Through world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore, and care about the world. Get More National Geographic: Official Site: https://nationalgeographic.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/natgeo Facebook: https://facebook.com/natgeo Threads: https://threads.com/@natgeo X: https://x.com/NatGeo LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/national-geographic TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@natgeo Reddit: https://reddit.com/user/nationalgeographic Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/natgeo Origins to Collapse of an Ancient Civilization | Rise and Fall of the Maya MEGA Episode | Nat Geo https://youtu.be/F0zo7zwdIFM National Geographic youtube.com/natgeo