Product Details

• Actors: Alexander Scourby, Leslie Nielsen, Joseph Campanella, Orson Welles, Richard Basehart
• Directors: Alexander Grasshoff, Aram Boyajian, Bert Haanstra, David Seltzer, Jack Kaufman
• Writers: James Lipscomb
• Producers: Al Giddings, Alexander Grasshoff, Bud Wiser, James Lipscomb
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Nat'l Geographic Vid
• VHS Release Date: July 8, 1997
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304475306
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,247 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Who were the Mayans? The answer depends on who you ask. Legend has it that the gods made them from corn. Armchair cultural critics with little more than a page-long encyclopedia entry's worth of knowledge see them as a ritualistic, dynastic people with a strong penchant for boulder hackysack. Take an hour-long tour of Lost Kingdoms of the Maya with host Susan Sarandon, however, and you'll see a culture that defies any handy categorization. Composed of a web of several hundred Central American kingdoms at the height of its powers, the Mayan empire was a cosmopolitan center of art and science that also had a taste for battle.

So what exactly happened to make the Paris of its time suddenly vanish? Puzzle along with archeologists and epigraphers as they try to piece history back together, one building and astrological codice at a time. Don't expect any pat answers, however. While a few educated guesses endure (overpopulation? deforestation? an out-of-control thirst for war?), the true reason for the Mayan fate might be best summarized in the true if not elegant words of one Mayan expert: "Civilization is a complex phenomenon, and we can screw up." --Bob Michaels

Product Description

Long before Columbus, the Maya established one of the most highly developed civilizations of their time in the jungles of Mexico and Central America. Yet this advanced society of priests, astronomers, artisans, and farmers suddenly and mysteriously collapsed more than a thousand years ago. Accompany archeologists to Copan, Dos Pilas, and other spectacular Classic Maya ruins as they unearth artifacts and huge temples of incredible beauty. Recently deciphered hieroglyphics and other new discoveries offer astounding clues to the lives of these ancient people. You'll hear the startling story of one kingdom's downfall and its final desperate hours of violent warfare. Through spine-tingling recreations, witness ancient rituals reenacted on sites where they originally occurred. And meet the enduring Maya who still maintain many of their ancestor's traditions. You'll hear the voices of a magnificent civilization as you uncover LOST KINGDOMS OF THE MAYA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great overview of Maya, July 11, 2001

By 

A. Breeman-Rhodes "Mommy of 2" (VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Geographic's Lost Kingdoms of the Maya [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have seen some educational videos on the Maya, but I believe this is the best one I have come across so far. I was looking for a good educational video on the Maya to prepare a group trip to Honduras. We did an excursion to Copan, and the knowledge from this tape enhanced our experience. Compared to other videos about the Maya, this video was the best in the story telling of the history of the Maya and today's exploration with archeologists. I have been to other Mayan ruins as well, and I am still in awe of their lives and culture. If you plan on going to Copan or any of the other ruins, definately this would be a good video to check out.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fairly Good Documentary, May 20, 2003

By 

T. Belton "tbelton1" (Richmond, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic's Lost Kingdoms of the Maya [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video was reasonably interesting, especially in its discussion of the Classic Maya Cities of Copan and Dos Pilas. I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of diversity regarding sites covered. Copan is certainly one of the more important Maya cities and it deserved coverage, but what about Tikal, Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Bonampak, just to mention a few others. They also might have considered some coverage of some of the Epi-classic & Post-Classic cities, such as Uxmal, Chichen-Itza, and Tulum; as these sites are also favorite tourist destinations.
The video is also somewhat dated, as so many recent discoveries have since added volumes of knowledge about these amazing people. All in all, it is still a good video that does wet the appetite for more learning about the Maya.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent view of the Maya civilization, December 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: National Geographic's Lost Kingdoms of the Maya [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a great video for anyone interested in the mysterious Mayan civilization. The photography and story telling are superb and only make the viewer hungry for more. I would recommend this video for anyone of any age, whether a history buff or just casual viewing. If you are a true history lover you must get this one. It is a real gem!