Environmental archaeology has transformed our understanding of the decline of the Maya civilization. For years, the collapse was attributed to warfare or political instability. However, recent analysis of lake sediments and tree rings suggests that a series of prolonged droughts was the decisive factor. The Maya had developed sophisticated irrigation systems, but these were designed to manage seasonal rainfall, not decades of extreme aridity. As the droughts persisted, the agricultural surplus that supported the massive urban centers disappeared, leading to famine and the eventual abandonment of the cities. This does not mean that warfare or political issues were absent; rather, the environmental stress acted as a 'threat multiplier,' exacerbating existing social tensions and undermining the legitimacy of the ruling elite who were expected to ensure the harvest. The Maya collapse illustrates the vulnerability of even highly complex societies to sudden shifts in the natural environment. Thus, the downfall of the Maya is best understood as a complex interaction between ecological limits and social structures, with climate serving as the primary catalyst.