The Maya

"A clear and intelligent description of the development and organization of Maya civilization". -- Natural History The Maya has long been established as the best and most readable introduction to the New World's greatest ancient civilization. In these pages Michael D. Coe distills a lifetime'sscholarship for the general reader and student. Now, for the sixth edition, Professor Coe incorporates the latest ideas and research in a fast-changing field. Spectacular tomb discoveries at the city of Copan reveal some of the early artistic and architectural splendors at this major site. New finds here and elsewhere entail a complete reinterpretation of the relationship between the warrior-kings of the Classic Maya lowlands and Teotihuacan, the greatest city of pre-Conquest America. Continuing epigraphic breakthroughs -- decipherments of Maya inscriptions -- demonstrate vividly the shifting power blocs among the competing Maya city states. A special feature of this revised edition is a new guide to reading Maya hieroglyphic writing, for students, visitors to the Maya area, and scholars alike.

Michael D. Coe is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology and Curator Emeritus in the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University.