Drought and the Classic Maya collapse
Severe droughts may explain why Tikal and Copán were abandoned
In the 9th century the great southern Maya cities, Tikal, Copán and Palenque, were abandoned. Lake sediments and stalagmites show a run of severe droughts then; it is the leading but not the only explanation. Charlemagne ruled in Europe.
Wikipedia (English) · 8th century
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Europe
- 793 Viking raid on Lindisfarne — 7 years earlier
- 800 Coronation of Charlemagne — same year
Asia
- 802 Founding of the Khmer Empire — 2 years later
Alive at the time
- Charlemagne (aged 52)
- Emperor Kanmu (aged 63)
- Harun al-Rashid (aged 34)
- Louis the Pious (aged 22)
- Al-Khwarizmi (aged 20)