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Overview
Ranging from the end of the Ice Age to the flourishing of Mayan culture in the first millennium to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, The Ancient Maya takes a fresh look at a culture that has long held the public's imagination. Originally thought to be peaceful and spiritual, the Mayans are now also known to have been worldly, bureaucratic, and violent. Debates and unanswered questions linger.
Mayan expert Heather McKillop shows our current understanding of the Maya, explaining how interpretations of "dirt archaeology," hieroglyphic inscriptions, and pictorial pottery are used to reconstruct the lives of royalty, artisans, priests, and common folk. She also describes the innovative focus on the interplay of the people with their environments that has helped further unravel the mystery of the Mayans' rise and fall.
Editorials
From the Publisher
"While the style of writing is still academic, the author took a quantum leap forward to boil down much of the information that we have on the Mayan civilization to place this book as a one-stop reference book that clearly stands on its own."
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Reviewer's Consortium
"The clearly written book boasts an extensive glossary, a long chronology listing major events from Maya origins to current research, and good maps and illustrations. It is excellent as a text and professional reference and for general readership. Summing up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries."
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Choice
" … a one-stop reference book that clearly stands on its own."
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Whispering Wind