Synopsis
How did the Maya live?
What sort of art did they make?
Why did the Maya civilization disappear?
The Maya answers these questions and much more.
The books in the History Opens Windows series all feature:
Clear, informative text
Colorful photographs and original source materials
Clear maps and diagrams
A timeline, glossary, and tips for further research.
School Library Journal
Gr 3-6
These short, adequate presentations of three ancient cultures emphasize governance and material culture (clothing, crafts, architecture). The books do not cover the origins of the empires or try to explain how they became so powerful. Sentences are simple and clear, and illustrations (mostly photos of artifacts, but also many reproductions of period art, city plans, etc.) are relevant and captioned. However, given the richness of the subject matter and the ongoing research into these civilizations, one might hope for a bit more than "adequate." Look to the "National Geographic Investigates" series for more depth and immediacy, Ferdinand Anton's The Secret World of the Aztecs (Prestel, 2002) for the same information delivered through stories and art, or Anita Ganeri's heavily illustrated Ancient Maya (Compass Point, 2006) for more fleshed-out depictions of these fascinating societies.-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD