This concise illustrated volume recounts Tikal's rise from prehistoric obscurity to unparalleled success at the height of Maya Civilisation, as well as its spectacular collapse and abandonment. Through the many hieroglyphic inscriptions, grave gifts from tombs, and a rich architectural and artistic legacy, the book recreates the political, and social life of the city and of the Maya in general.
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From the Publisher
In this compelling history, Maya specialist and artist John Montgomery introduces the general reader to the social, political, and economic world of Tikal, the most renowned of the ancient Maya city-states. Drawing on recent discoveries about Maya ruling dynasties and trade relationships, Montgomery has produced a vivid account of this highly developed civilization that perfected methods of writing, astronomy, and mathematics, among other accomplishments. Montgomery reconstructs the life of Tikal through the centuries, from prehistoric times to the spectacular height of the city-state’s influence, and to its sudden, mysterious decline and fall. Over 70 photographs, maps, and the author’s intricate line drawings complement the fascinating and accessible narrative. This book is an essential introduction to Mayan history for the student or casual enthusiast.
About the Author
John Montgomery is an illustrator, epigrapher, writer, and PhD candidate in the field of Pre-Columbian Art at the University of New Mexico. He also teaches art history at the South-western Indian Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque. A long and varied experience in Central America first inspired his interest in the ancient Maya. His glyphic illustrations based on a lifetime of involvement with Maya glyph decipherment. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this book before you visit Tikal,
By Nobody's Fool "enlightened" (Ogden, UT) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tikal: An Illustrated History of the Ancient Maya Capital (Paperback)
I have visited Tikal three times over the past 20 years. I wish Montgomery's book had been available prior to making those excursions. It's a wonderful resource that explains in easily understandable terms the significance of this phenomenal Mayan city and the civilization that supported it for so many centuries.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Begats of Tikal,
By Joel Yelland (Omak, WA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Tikal: An Illustrated History of the Ancient Maya Capital (Paperback)
This is a readable account of a potentially dry subject: the chronology of the rulers of Tikal. The author has collected information from a lot of sources and notes when he ventures into conjecture. The comments along the way on the how the people lived and the reasons for their civilization's eventual downfall are linked with the chronology itself; although you learn a lot about these subjects this book does not read like "a history of the Mayan people". It is recent and seems to take in the latest research. I just got back from my first visit to Tikal (go!) and it was really helpful in understanding the grandeur of the ancient city as it was and its relationship with other Mayan cities and the other Mesoamerican cultures. The "illustrated" part of the title is somewhat of a misnomer; there are lots of drawings of glyphs of the rulers' names, line drawings of many stelae and some photos, but there are better "picture books", though perhaps not as generally informative as this one.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good Intro...but not that much after that,
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This review is from: Tikal: An Illustrated History of the Ancient Maya Capital (Paperback)
I read the book because i am visiting Tikal later in the month and i wanted something that would give me some information about the place.Since there are not that many books on Tikal, i picked up this one.The book is a good introduction for the topic.The description of the place and its buildings is good.The author does a good job in letting us know the purpose and characteristics of every important place in Tikal.But that's basically it.The author doesnt tell us anymore about the Mayas per se.You dont read about their daily lives and the beliefs.Another thing is that, to my impression, the author dwells too much on Tikal relationship with other cities in the area which sometimes made me feel like he was just giving too much importance to the political aspect of TIkal instead of telling us more about Tikal, its people and what happened inside the city.But,again, it is a very good introduction for your studies on the Mayas.
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