Chichen Itza, the ancient city whose name means "in the mouth at the Itzae's Well", was, in its time of grandeur between 800 and 1200 A.D., the center of political, religious and military power in Yucatan, if not all of south-easterner Meso America. Chichen Itza was abandoned suddenly around 1400 A.D. perhaps because of internal fighting or for lack of food. There are many different theories but no one knows for certain.