Summary
Long before European boats reached the shores of the Americas, sophisticated civilizations had already developed throughout the continents. The empire of the Maya, located in modern Mexico and Central America, influenced civilization there for centuries. The ancient Maya had fully developed the idea of the calendar, detailed a writing system, pioneered new ideas in agriculture, and built towering palaces and temples that still stand today.
Featuring full-color photographs and maps, summaries of key people and key sites, a chronology, glossary, bibliography, and up-to-date further resources, Empires of the Maya, Second Edition gives a brief summary of the history of the empire, placing it within the context of its time period and geographical location, and then explores the evolution of Maya civilization from its origin through the classic period to the Spanish conquest. Delving into daily life, the book includes Maya achievements in mathematics, astronomy, technology, political organization, commerce, architecture, and the arts.
About the Author(s)
Jill Rubalcaba began her working life teaching mathematics in college and high school in Boston, all the while continuing her education in math, writing, and business. Later she worked as an engineer on the Patriot Missile in Massachusetts and in White Sands, New Mexico. She is the author of A Place in the Sun, The Wadjet Eye, The Early Human World, The Ancient Egyptian World, National Geographic Investigates Ancient Egypt, and I. M. Pei: Architect of Time, Place and Purpose. Her recent book, Every Bone Tells a Story: Hominin Discoveries, Deductions, and Debates, co-authored with Peter Robertshaw, was a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. Jill lives on the Wesleyan campus in Middletown, Connecticut.