Maya Civilization

Examines the religion, art, architecture, society, and intellectual pursuits of the ancient Maya, based on artifacts gathered at their ruins.

Grade 6-9-This book provides information and emphasizes the purpose of the study of history. The process of deducing information from primary sources and archaeological findings gives readers a sense of the process of historical research. Careful attention is given to the study of artifacts and architecture, which demonstrates how every facet of Mayan life was interwoven to produce a great civilization. The use of evidence and the drawing of various conclusions are especially strong in the description of the Mayans' decline. Another strong feature is the incorporation of primary and secondary sources within the text. Again, the historians included discuss how theories were formed about their subject. An example is the idea of the Asian influence on Mayan culture. The basis for this belief is the similarities in the methods used by astronomers of the Han Dynasty and the Mayans to predict solar and lunar eclipses. Black-and-white reproductions and photographs appear throughout. Insets from secondary or primary sources give additional insight and information. While Robert Sharer's Daily Life in Maya Civilization (Greenwood, 1996) provides fuller coverage, this introduction will serve as an overview of this civilization.
Lana Miles, Duchesne Academy, Houston, TX
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.