The ancient Maya

Sharer, Robert J. (Author). Traxler, Loa P. (Added Author).

Summary: Of Archaic and Early Preclassic developments -- Patterns in the evolution of Mesoamerican civilization -- 5. The emergence of Maya civilization in the Middle Preclassic -- The emergence of complex societies -- Markers of complex societies -- The Pacific plain in the Middle Preclassic -- Middle Preclassic commodities and monuments -- The highlands in the Middle Preclassic -- The lowlands in the Middle Preclassic -- Middle Preclassic communities -- The rise of complex society in the lowlands -- Further Middle Preclassic developments in the lowlands -- Summary : the Middle Preclassic precursors of Maya civilization -- 6. The origins of Maya states in the Late Preclassic -- Late Preclassic Maya civilization and writing traditions-- The Late Preclassic Isthmian tradition -- The Late Preclassic Southern Maya -- Highland-lowland interaction in the Preclassic -- The Maya lowlands in the Late Preclassic -- Patterns of Late Preclassic rulership -- Preclassic developments in the Northern lowlands -- Late Preclassic lowland Maya civilization -- Decline in the terminal Preclassic -- Summary : reconstructing the Maya Preclassic -- 7. The expansion of Maya states in the Early Classic -- The Early Classic and the origins of Maya civilization -- The Southern Maya area in the Classic Period -- The Classic transition in the lowlands -- The expansion of states in the Maya lowlands -- Competition and warfare in the Classic lowlands -- The Early Classic in the Maya lowlands -- The rise of Tikal in the Early Classic (ca. 100-378) -- Neighboring centers in the central lowlands (ca. 328-416).

Record details

ISBN: 0804748160
ISBN: 9780804748162
ISBN: 0804748179
ISBN: 9780804748179
Physical Description: print
xxxiv, 931 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm
Edition: 6th ed.
Publisher: Stanford, Calif. : Stanford University Press, 2006.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 811-888) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

Introduction -- Discovery and conquest by Europeans -- The fate of the Maya heritage -- The meaning of Maya civilization -- Foreign domination and rebirth of the Maya heritage -- The destruction of the Maya heritage -- 1. The setting of Maya civilization -- Natural and cultural subdivisions of the Maya Area -- The Pacific Coastal plain -- The highlands -- The lowlands -- The consequences of ecological diversity -- 2. Archaeology and Maya civilization -- Reconstructing the past -- Changing perspectives on the Maya past -- Models of past societies -- Development of complex society and civilization -- The evolution of civilizations -- Understanding the evolution of Maya civilization -- The Maya economy -- Maya social and political systems -- Maya ideology and religion -- The ancient Maya world -- Elite and nonelite views of the ancient Maya -- Chronology -- 3. History and Maya civilization -- Time and Maya history -- Numerals -- The calendar -- Measuring the cycles of time -- Recording the cycles of time -- Sources of Maya history -- The Maya chronicles -- Ancient writing systems -- Pre-Columbian Maya texts -- Ancient Maya writing -- Milestones in decipherment -- Contributions to understanding the ancient Maya -- History and Maya civilization -- 4. The origins of Maya civilization -- The chronology of pre-Columbian development -- The Archaic : origins of highland and coastal cultural traditions -- The Early Preclassic : agriculture, warfare, and evidence of complex society -- Preclassic developments on the Gulf Coast of Mexico -- Preclassic developments in highland Mexico.