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Summary
Summary
The ancient Mayan civilization of southern Mexico and northern Central America has long been described as "mysterious," even though scholars have been studying this culture for hundreds of years. Our view of the Maya has changed dramatically based on the various findings of these scholars; what were once thought of as "vacant ceremonial centers," inhabited by only a few calendar priests and used as places of ritual by the surrounding peasant farmers, have now been redefined as ancient thriving cities of thousands of Maya. Hierogliphic inscriptions, once thought to be astrological mumbo-jumbo, now read as names of historical individuals and the cities they ruled.
The Handbook to Life in the Ancient Maya World provides a comprehensive and accessible reference to the greatest and most mysterious of civilizations, hailed for its contributions to science, mathematics, and technology. The book focuses on recent groundbreaking discoveries while presenting the civilization's earlist beginnings to its conquest by the Spanish in the 16th Century. Each chapter is supplemented by an extensive bibliography as well as photographs. original line drawings, and maps. Different sections include civilization and archaeology, evolution, geography, society and government, astronomy and the calendar, funerary beliefs and customs, and many more,
Author Notes
Lynn V. Foster is an independent writer and scholar. Peter Mathewsis Professor of Archaeology at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.
Reviews (2)
Booklist Review
This useful new source for readers interested in the Maya is arranged in 12 readable chapters covering topics such as archaeology, geography, government, cosmology, architecture, astronomy, and daily life. These chapters are subdivided into sections that are usually several pages in length; examples are "Agriculture," "Other Food Production," "Craft Production, " and "Trade" in the chapter "Economy, Industry, and Trade." The subdivisions are in turn divided into smaller sections that each address a specific topic, such as "Soil Conservation and Intensive Cultivation or "Salt Production." An extensive index gives access to all of the topical subdivisions, and there are cross-references within the essays. Each chapter includes a reading list. The volume also includes a chronological chart of Maya history, an extensive bibliography, black-and-white illustrations and photographs, and maps. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures: The Civilizations of Mexico and Central America(Oxford, 2001) [RBB S 1 01] and Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America: An Encyclopedia(Garland, 2001) [RBB Mr 1 01] each covers a wider scope of geography and cultures and is organized alphabetically instead of thematically. If forced to choose only one reference source on ancient Mesoamerican cultures, Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America: An Encyclopediaprovides the best balance of comprehensive coverage and relatively low price ($150). The Handbook would be a useful addition to public and academic library collections that need more extensive coverage of the Maya. RBB.
Choice Review
Foster has done a good job pulling together an enormous body of information on the ancient Maya and making it accessible to the average reader. Written in jargon-free prose and divided into 12 chapters that cover religion, architecture, economy and industry, funerary beliefs and customs, and writing, the book should appeal to specialists and nonspecialists alike. Foster, a freelance writer and not an archaeologist or epigrapher, has been associated with one school of thought on Maya writing--the "University of Texas" school--and thus there is little mention of highly influential work done outside that school. The chapter on Maya hieroglyphic writing was penned by Ruth Krochock, and although informative, should be supplemented by Joyce Marcus's Mesoamerican Writing Systems (CH, Jul'93). Foster's book is well illustrated, and the inclusion of several maps showing the locations of sites and regions adds substantially to the discussion. Because the book is aimed primarily at lay audiences, there are no citations, making it impossible to corroborate particular statements made in the text. References to author and date appear at the end of chapters under the heading "Reading." Extremely well indexed, with a thorough references-cited section, the book will appeal to anyone with an interest in the prehistoric Maya, especially the lay public and undergraduate students. M. J. O'Brien University of Missouri--Columbia
Excerpts
Excerpts
"One of the Mesoamerican civilizations that flourished in Mexico and parts of Central America, the Maya are becoming increasingly known for their contributions to science, mathematics, and technology. Handbook to Life in the Ancient Maya World sorts through recent groundbreaking discoveries to offer an accessible thematic presentation of the latest research on all aspects of Maya society, from its earliest beginnings to the Spanish Conquest in the sixteenth century." "The book includes a chronological chart of Maya history and an extensive bibliography, as well as original line drawings, photographs, and maps. Handbook to Life in Ancient Maya World combines archaeological and historical sources to provide a bounty of useful information for anyone interested in Maya history, archaeology, religion, or culture."--BOOK JACKET.