The Mayan katun predictions are cyclic. Katun 4 Ahau repeats once every 256 years. So, let us back-test this theory and just as a Mayan Jaguar Priest would have done look back through recorded history at previous Katun 4 Ahau periods to see what events happened and if the pattern holds up.
The previous Katun 4 Ahau coincided with the years 1736-1756. Interestingly, the theoretical underpinnings of the Internet, known as graph theory, were first presented in 1735 and published in 1741. On August 26, 1735 Leonard Euler presented his solution to the mathematical problem known as the Seven Bridges of Konigsberg. The Internet utilizes a technique called packet switching to move data around the network that is only possible because of Euler's solution to the Seven Bridges mathematical problem. Thus it seems that discoveries in this Katun 4 Ahau cycle led directly to the fulfillment of a prediction in the next Katun 4 Ahau cycle.
According to Wikipedia it was also in 1728 and 1751 that the first modern encyclopedias were created. An encyclopedia certainly represents the idea of "remembering and recording knowledge."
The next prior Katun 4 Ahau cycle coincided with the years 1480-1500. This corresponds to the Age of Exploration as well as the invention of the printing press. According to Wikipedia, "by 1500, printing presses throughout western Europe had already produced more than 20 million volumes." It seems the printing press had the same impact on information during its time period that the World Wide Web did in its time period and both fell within a Katun 4 Ahau cycle. By 1620, Francis Bacon noted that printing had "changed the whole face and state of things throughout the world." The same quote could be used in regards to the World Wide Web today.
The next previous Katun 4 Ahau coincided with the years 1224-1244. Coincidentally, the most quoted Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages, the De proprietatibus rerum, was created in 1240 by Bartholomeus Anglicus. Thus it does appear that this katun cycle is associated with advances in recording information.
What about the other part of the Mayan predictions for Katun 4 Ahau, namely:
"Ah Kantenal shall come…There will be scarcities of corn and squash during this katun that leads to a great loss of life."
According to one researcher, Al Kantenal means "he who adulterates maize."[24] Interestingly, it was in 1996 that the first genetically modified seeds came on the market. The first of these were corn, soybeans, and cotton. Genetically modified squash was introduced later. Fifteen years later around 86% of all corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified thus there certainly is a "scarcity of corn," real corn, that is. The arrival of Ah Kantenal, “he who adulterates maize” would certainly seem to have been fulfilled as well.
As we have seen earlier, events that occur in one katun can apparently bring about the predictions the next time this katun cycle rolls around such as with the invention of graph theory in 1736 leading to the subsequent creation of the World Wide Web in 1993. Thus what is in store for the future?
One recent event in South Africa should give us all pause about the path we are currently on with genetically modified crops. In 2009 there was an 86% crop failure of genetically modified corn in South Africa. Scientists still do not fully understand the cause. If the same were to happen in America, it would cause a worldwide food crisis. What will the state of the world's agricultural system look like 256 years from now when the next Katun 4 Ahau cycle rolls around? Global warming, peak oil, and genetically modified crop failures are all very real concerns for the future.
Additionally, between the years 1993 and 2012 there were several famines caused by the lack of corn. The southern African nations of Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique all experienced famines resulting from shortages of corn in the year 2002. North Korea experienced famines in 1996 and again in 2008. Thus “a great loss of life due to the scarcity of corn” seems to have happened just as the Mayan “prophecies” predicted.
Another Mayan prediction associated with agriculture was the one that stated, “A plague will threaten beehives.” It was in 2006 that a new disease causing the disappearance of countless beehives was first discovered and named Colony Collapse Disorder. According to Wikipedia, “Colony collapse is significant economically because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees; and ecologically, because of the major role that bees play in the reproduction of plant communities in the wild.” Thus once again it seems a prediction for Katun 4 Ahau has come true.
What about the part of the “prophecy” or prediction that states, "Blood vomit shall come?" It is thought this references a disease experienced by the Maya during the Katun 4 Ahau cycle that immediately preceded the arrival of the Spanish in their lands. The sickness started with a fever followed by "body swelling and being filled with worms." The victim also vomited blood, hence the name. Some believe this disease was yellow fever.
Interestingly, in January of 1993 the first cases of Yellow Fever in Kenya were first diagnosed. They later determined that the outbreak had begun several months earlier. Kenya had never experienced a Yellow Fever outbreak in its entire history before this.
The “blood vomit” disease also sounds very similar to the effects caused by the Ebola virus. Several outbreaks of this virus have occurred since 1993 such as in 2000, 2001, 2004, and 2007. In fact, there have been more outbreaks of Ebola since 1993 than in all previous years. In this time period there were 18 known outbreaks that killed over 1,000 people. The mortality rate is staggering with the disease, which kills between 51%-83% of those who become infected.
There is one final part of the katun predictions for this cycle that is interesting. As the predictions state, "Kukulkan
