Daily Life in Maya Civilization (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series) [Hardcover]

Robert J. Sharer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 1996 | ISBN-10: 0313293422 | ISBN-13: 978-0313293429

This examination of daily life in ancient Maya civilization presents the very latest discoveries and interpretations and corrects popular misconceptions. Based on the results of recent research from a variety of disciplines, it traces Maya civilization from its earliest beginnings to the Spanish conquest in the 16th century and shows how the Maya successfully adapted to their environment and preserved their traditional culture and lauguages from oppression over thousands of years. Archaeologist Sharer, one of the foremost experts on the Maya, offers unique insights into Maya civilization based on 30 years of living and working in Central America. Over 60 illustrations and photographs of Maya life, artifacts, and archaeological sites bring the social, political, economic, religious, and cultural aspects of Maya civilization to life. For ease of use by students, the work is organized into chapters covering all aspects of Maya life and civilization: the foundations of Maya life and civilization: early, middle, and late Maya civilization; economy (production and trade); social and political systems; life cycle events; religion; writing and calendars; and the variety of arts and crafts. The work closes with discussion of the meaning of Maya civilization for us today -- how the achievements and failures of the Maya past can be of benefit to the modern world. The work includes a historical timeline of Maya civilization and a bibliography for further reading. This work will replace all earlier resources on the Maya and will provide school and public librarians and students with the most up-to-date and historically accurate information on the Maya.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up. This thorough study of Mayan culture begins with a history of the development of this civilization over several thousand years. The author explains the effects of climate and terrain on population shifts and how archaeologists study sites and reconstruct societies from their findings. Following chapters discuss the rise and fall of royal dynasties, economic growth, social roles and strata, daily life, political organization, and religion. An in-depth examination of Mayan writing and numerical systems and the development of a complex calendrical record demonstrates the sophistication of this culture. An extensive bibliography is included. Black-and-white photographs of art, artifacts, excavations, and contemporary Mayan life as well as charts and a map extend the well-written text, but the book's overall appearance is bland and utilitarian. Carolyn Meyer and Charles Gallenkamp's The Mystery of the Ancient Maya (McElderry, 1994) is less detailed, but provides some colorful background information about earlier archaeological expeditions. Libraries needing comprehensive material about the Mayans will welcome Sharer's new title.?Cynthia M. Sturgis, Ledding Library, Milwaukee, OR
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“This thorough study of Mayan culture begins with a history of the development of this civilization over several thousand years. The author explains the effects of climate and terrain on population shifts and how archaeologists study sites and reconstruct societies from their findings. Following chapters discuss the rise and fall of royal dynasties, economic growth, social roles and strata, daily life, political organization, and religion. An in-depth examination of Mayan writing and numerical systems and the development of a complex calendrical record demonstrates the sophistication of this culture....Libraries needing comprehensive material about the Mayans will welcome Sharer's new title.”–School Library Journal

“This book is a complete overview of the Maya Civilization from its beginnings to the Spanish Conquest. It includes the latest research....The work is organized into usable chapters on social and political systems, economy, life cycle events, religion, writing, calendars, and a brief section on arts and crafts....The material is presented in a way to answer common beginning research questions about the Maya civilization....Recommended.”–The Book Report

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (September 30, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313293422
• ISBN-13: 978-0313293429
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,340,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everything you Need in One Book, July 5, 2002

By 

Thomas F. Ogara (Jacksonville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daily Life in Maya Civilization (The Greenwood Press Daily Life Through History Series) (Hardcover)

I don't know whether Professor Sharer wrote this book to be a college textbook. It certainly can be used as one for an overall basic survey of Mayan civilization for the undergraduate. In case you were wondering, it is most definitely not of the "Daily Life in Ancient Rome" type of book that was so popular when I was a kid. This is adult stuff.

Not that the book is slow; on the contrary, it is generally good reading all the way through. It covers just about everything at least a little bit, and the bibliography leads you on to more detailed reference when you need it. It not only covers the sum total of the latest in Mayan archeology, but includes most of the anthropological data that Mayanists have found useful in their construction of Classic Mayan culture, as well as a brief but satisfactory review of Mayan writing.

The one thing I found unsatisfactory was Professor Sharer's need to grandstand on ecological issues whenever the topic could be conveniently inserted into the discussion at hand. While I generally agree with the ecological movement, I felt that it was out of place in this book. If that doesn't bother you, have at it - this book is the state of the art on what we know about the Maya. Of course, that will change in a couple of years, but by then a revised edition will be in order!