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What were the main causes proposed for the decline of Classic Maya cities after 900 CE?

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Map showing principal sites of Meso-American civilization, with the Mayan zone of influence shaded in green across southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador. The map highlights major Mayan, Aztec, and other ancient sites, as well as the extent of the Aztec Empire in central Mexico, using color-coded symbols and labels for notable cities and archaeological locations. — Pre-Columbian civilizations Principal sites of Mesoamerican civilization.

The decline of Classic Maya civilization after 900 CE remains one of history's great mysteries, as there is no single, universally accepted explanation. Scholars generally agree that the collapse was likely the result of multiple, interrelated factors rather than a single event.12

Proposed causes for the decline include:

Ecological Factors: Severe environmental degradation, such as deforestation and the exhaustion of agricultural land due to over-intensification, likely occurred in response to population pressure. Drought is also considered a significant contributor.1342
Sociopolitical Instability: Internal factors, including civil wars, the breakdown of critical land and river trade routes, and stresses within the social structure, played a major role. While some have suggested peasant revolts, there is little evidence to support this on a large scale.3421
External Pressures: While massive foreign invasions are generally discounted as a primary cause, there is evidence of intervention and influence from central Mexico that may have sapped the strength and vitality of Maya centers.142
Natural Disasters: Various natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, famines, epidemics, and hurricanes, have been proposed as contributing factors.2