Encyclopedia of the Ancient Maya

Encyclopedia of the Ancient Maya PDF

Author: Walter R. T. Witschey

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2015-12-24

Total Pages: 575

ISBN-13: 0759122865

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Encyclopedia of the Ancient Maya offers an A-to-Z overview of the ancient Maya culture from its inception around 3000 BC to the Spanish Conquest after AD 1600. Over two hundred entries written by more than sixty researchers explore subjects ranging from food, clothing, and shelter to the sophisticated calendar and now-deciphered Maya writing system. They bring special attention to environmental concerns and climate variation; fresh understandings of shifting power dynamics and dynasties; and the revelations from emerging field techniques (such as LiDAR remote sensing) and newly explored sites (such as La Corona, Tamchen, and Yaxnohkah). This one-volume reference is an essential companion for students studying ancient civilizations, as well as a perfect resource for those planning to visit the Maya area. Cross-referencing, topical and alphabetical lists of entries, and a comprehensive index help readers find relevant details. Suggestions for further reading conclude each entry, while sidebars profile historical figures who have shaped Maya research. Maps highlight terrain, archaeological sites, language distribution, and more; over fifty photographs complement the volume.

The Construction of Value in the Ancient World

The Construction of Value in the Ancient World PDF

Author: John K. Papadopoulos

Publisher: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press

Published: 2012-12-31

Total Pages: 666

ISBN-13: 1938770471

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Recipient of the Jo Anne Stolaroff Cotsen Prize Scholars from Aristotle to Marx and beyond have been fascinated by the question of what constitutes value. The Construction of Value in the Ancient World makes a significant contribution to this ongoing inquiry, bringing together in one comprehensive volume the perspectives of leading anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, linguists, philologists, and sociologists on how value was created, defined, and expressed in a number of ancient societies around the world. Based on the basic premise that value is a social construct defined by the cultural context in which it is situated, the volume explores four overarching but closely interrelated themes: place value, body value, object value, and number value. The questions raised and addressed are of central importance to archaeologists studying ancient civilizations: How can we understand the value that might have been accorded to materials, objects, people, places, and patterns of action by those who produced or used the things that compose the human material record? Taken as a whole, the contributions to this volume demonstrate how the concept of value lies at the intersection of individual and collective tastes, desires, sentiments, and attitudes that inform the ways people select, or give priority to, one thing over another.

New Theories on the Ancient Maya

New Theories on the Ancient Maya PDF

Author: Elin C. Danien

Publisher: UPenn Museum of Archaeology

Published: 1992-01-29

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 9780924171130

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Papers from the 1987 Maya Weekend conference at the University of Pennsylvania Museum present current views of Maya culture and language. Also included is an article by George Stuart summarizing the history of the study of Maya hieroglyphs and the fascinating scholars and laypersons who have helped bring about their decipherment. Symposium Series III University Museum Monograph, 77

Reading the Maya Glyphs (Second Edition)

Reading the Maya Glyphs (Second Edition) PDF

Author: Michael D. Coe

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Published: 2005-06-17

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13: 0500773335

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The breaking of the Maya code has completely changed our knowledge of this ancient civilization, and has revealed the Maya people's long and vivid history. Decipherment of Maya hieroglyphic writing has progressed to the point where most Maya written texts—whether inscribed on monuments, written in the codices, or painted or incised on ceramics—can now be read with confidence. In this practical guide, first published in 2001, Michael D. Coe, the noted Mayanist, and Mark Van Stone, an accomplished calligrapher, have made the difficult, often mysterious script accessible to the nonspecialist. They decipher real Maya texts, and the transcriptions include a picture of the glyph, the pronunciation, the Maya words in Roman type, and the translation into English. For the second edition, the authors have taken the latest research and breakthroughs into account, adding glyphs, updating captions, and reinterpreting or expanding upon earlier decipherments. After an introductory discussion of Maya culture and history and the nature of the Maya script, the authors introduce the glyphs in a series of chapters that elaborate on topics such as the intricate calendar, warfare, royal lives and rituals, politics, dynastic names, ceramics, relationships, and the supernatural world. The book includes illustrations of historic texts, a syllabary, a lexicon, and translation exercises.

Maya hieroglyphic writing: an introduction

Maya hieroglyphic writing: an introduction PDF

Author: John Eric Sidney Thompson

Publisher:

Published: 2012-05

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781258318512

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Maya Hieroglyphic Writing: Introduction is a comprehensive book that provides an in-depth exploration of the ancient Maya civilization's writing system. Written by John Eric Sidney Thompson, a renowned Maya scholar and archaeologist, this book offers a detailed analysis of the hieroglyphic script used by the Maya people to record their history, culture, and beliefs.The book begins with an overview of the Maya civilization, its history, and the discovery of its writing system. It then delves into the structure and meaning of the Maya hieroglyphs, providing readers with a thorough understanding of how the script was used to convey information.Thompson also discusses the role of the scribes in Maya society and the importance of hieroglyphic writing in religious and political contexts. He provides numerous examples of Maya inscriptions and explains how they can be deciphered to reveal important insights into the civilization's culture and history.The book is extensively illustrated with photographs, drawings, and diagrams, making it easy for readers to follow the author's explanations. Additionally, Thompson includes a glossary of Maya terms and a bibliography for further reading.Maya Hieroglyphic Writing: Introduction is an essential resource for anyone interested in the Maya civilization, archaeology, or ancient writing systems. It provides a comprehensive overview of the Maya hieroglyphic script and its significance, making it a valuable addition to any library or collection.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Art of the Maya Scribe

Art of the Maya Scribe PDF

Author: Michael Coe

Publisher:

Published: 1998-02

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

To the four great calligraphic traditions - ancient Egyptian, East Asian, Islamic, and western European - is now added a fifth: that of the ancient Maya. Long known but little understood, Maya writing has now largely been deciphered, leading to a new understanding of the Maya scribes and the society in which they lived. This volume is the first to make full use of the latest research and the first to consider Maya writing both aesthetically and in terms of its meaning. Michael D. Coe begins by examining the origins and character of the script. He then explores the world of the scribes and "keepers of the holy books, " decoding their depiction in Maya art and describing the mediums in which they worked, their tools, and techniques.

Mayan Writing in Mesoamerica

Mayan Writing in Mesoamerica PDF

Author: August Greeley

Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc

Published: 2002-12-15

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13: 9780823965113

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Explores the development and use of written languages among the ancient Mayan people, who lived in an area comprised of Mexico, Central America, and part of South America known as Mesoamerica.

The Maya

The Maya PDF

Author: Michael D. Coe

Publisher: Thames & Hudson

Published: 2023-09-28

Total Pages: 503

ISBN-13: 0500778035

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

The Maya has long been established as the best, most readable introduction to the ancient Maya on the market today. This classic book has been updated by distilling the latest scholarship for the general reader and student. This tenth edition incorporates the most recent archaeological and epigraphic findings, which continue to proceed at a fast pace, along with full-colour illustrations. The new material includes evidence of the earliest human occupants of the Maya region and the beginnings of agriculture and settled life; analysis from lidar on swampy areas, such as Usumacinta, that show enormous rectangle earthworks, including Aguada Fénix, dating from 1050 to 750 BC; and recent advances in decoding Maya writing and imagery. It also expands on information on the roles of women, courtiers and outsiders; covers novel research about Maya cities, including research into water quality, marketplaces, fortifications and integrated road systems; and features coverage of more recent Maya history, including the displacement and mistreatment of the Maya people, along with growing affirmations of their cultural identity and rights. Highlighting the vitality of current scholarship about this brilliant culture, The Maya remains the gold standard introductory book on the subject.