The original theory postulated that Mayan cities represented "priest-ruled city-states that were often at war with one another". This interpretation was primarily based on earlier archaeological findings during the 19th and early 20th centuries, which focused on large ceremonial centers and grand architectural structures (e.g., the iconic temples and pyramids).
Initially, scholars drew parallels between these impressive sites, such as Chichén Itzá and Tikal, to other ancient societies known for religious power and frequent conflicts, like ancient Egypt and Greece. They envisioned a top-down, religious-political authority ruling over a decentralized group of smaller communities centered around these ceremonial areas.