The Maya (Ancient Peoples and Places) [Paperback]

Michael D. Coe (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0500280665 | ISBN-13: 978-0500280669 | Publication Date: February 1999 | Edition: 6th

In this revised and expanded introduction to the Maya, 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 splendours 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. Special features of this revised edition are a new guide to visiting the Maya area and lists of rulers for the major classic cities.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Because of the wealth of new archaeological data and breakthroughs in the translation of hieroglyphs, Coe's updating of his classic synthesis of Maya civilization provides a valuable service to both informed lay readers and specialists wishing to apprise themselves of the current state of understanding of this most intellectually sophisticated and aesthetically refined pre-Columbian culture. Although the vast majority of the text may be found in the prior edition, the work is transformed by significant interpolations and deletions and is augmented by a new section of color plates, a useful guide for travelers, and a listing of Maya rulers. As it now stands, this refreshed and renewed little masterpiece merits a place in collections serving students of ancient Mesoamerica. Continuing a tradition of massive exhibitions and concomitant exhibition catalogs, the Palazzo Grassi, Venice, has at last discovered the New World. This initial incursion wisely focuses on the most accessible of the great pre-Hispanic cultures, the Maya. In this daunting but unfocused potpourri, some 29 essayists broach nearly the full range of Maya historical, societal, intellectual, political, and artistic traditions with varying degrees of competence. As is common with collective efforts of this sort, one finds both a certain redundancy of elementary facts and a not infrequent inconsistency about the facts themselves. Crammed into the last hundred pages of the volume is the catalog of more than 500 well-illustrated but only perfunctorily documented and analyzed objects. Aside from its value as a remarkable gathering of some 1400 excellent color reproductions, this ill-balanced and ultimately superficial tome has little to recommend it.ARobert Cahn, Fashion Inst. of Technology, New York
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A clear and intelligent description of the development and organization of Maya civilization. -- Natural History

[Coe] has shown an outstanding ability in selecting and organizing his material. . . . A pleasure to read. -- Antiquity

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; 6th edition (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500280665
• ISBN-13: 978-0500280669
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #683,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University, Michael D. Coe is a specialist in the comparative study of ancient, tropical forest civilizations. Coe's books include The Maya, Mexico, The True History of Chocolate, Breaking the Maya Code, Reading the Maya Glyphs, and Angkor and the Khmer Civilization.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars scholarly but difficult to wade through, January 13, 1998

By 

Joe the Critic (San Jose Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Maya (Ancient Peoples and Places) (Paperback)

I would recommend this book for people who are planning to visit Mayan sites such as Chichen Itza or Tikal, and would like to get a scholarly, authoritative overview of current scientific knowledge. It is not, however, a page turner. The writing style is dry, and a most of the book consists of lengthy lists and descriptions of buildings and artifacts discovered at every major Mayan site, with little analysis or discussion of what the artifacts actually signify. Those who are short of time or patience would do well to skip ahead to the last three chapters, where the author *at last* provides a discussion of Mayan culture and beliefs. This book is still a good use of time for people who want to get a scientific view of Mayan civilization, instead of the myths that the local tour guides will perpetrate. The hand-drawn maps and illustrations are especially beautifully rendered.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book worked well as a college textbook on the Maya., June 29, 1999

By 

David K. Jordan (La Jolla, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Maya (Ancient Peoples and Places) (Paperback)

For several years I have used this edition and its three predecessors in a small, introductory college seminar on Maya archaeology. Students and I both liked it. It is sensitive to developments in all areas of Maya research and to the growing knowledge about interactions between the Maya and other ancient peoples of the region. (In this it complements Coe's companion book, MEXICO.) The sixth edition nicely takes account of recent exciting developments in deciphering Maya script, which is a useful addition, since these are headline grabbers that correspond well with what is likely to bubble over into the news media. As a balanced, archaeologically responsible, continuously updated account, with lots of maps and pictures to amplify the text, this is a really useful book.

41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Maya archeology, August 3, 2004

By 

T. Carlsson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Maya (Ancient Peoples and Places) (Paperback)

Over three quarters of this book is spent on describing cities and artifacts in a long list. This is probably what Maya specialists are interested in, but I would think that a book with this title should actually try to write the history of the Maya and not just present the archaeological evidence of it. The book finally changes to a more interesting way of presentation towards the end (long after the chapters which judging by their title should have dealt with the different time-periods in Maya history), but up to that point it's pretty tough going for someone who's interested only in a larger view of Maya history.