Product Description
by Robert J. Sharer (Author)
Experience daily life in Maya civilization, from its earliest beginnings to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Narrative chapters describe Mayan political life, economy, social structure, religion, writing, warfare, and scientific methods. Readers will explore the Mayan calendar, counting system, hunting and gathering methods, language, and family roles and relationships. A revised and expanded edition based on the latest archaeological research, this volume offers new interpretations and corrects popular misconceptions, and shows how the Maya adapted to their environment and preserved their culture and language over thousands of years. Over 60 photos and illustrations, several of new archaeological sites, enhance the material, and an expanded resource center bibliography includes web sites and DVDs for further study. The closing chapter discusses what Maya civilization means for us today and what we can learn from Maya achievements and failures. A first-stop reference source for any student of Latin American and Native American history and culture.
Author Biography
ROBERT J. SHARER is Sally and Alvin Shoemaker Professor in Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of of The Ancient Maya (revised and expanded edition 2006) and Quirigua: A Classic Maya Center and Its Sculpture (1990), has published over 100 scholarly articles, and has co-written two archaeology textbooks and several monographs reporting the results of his archaeological research. He has also co-edited five books, including Understanding Early Classic Copan (2004), and Regional Perspectives on the Olmec (1989). He has conducted research in Central America for over 40 years.
