The History Detective Investigates: Mayan Civilization

Description

The early Mayans date back to 1800 BC however the golden age of Mayan civilization was around AD 250. They were the most dominant civilization of Mesopotamia covering what is now Guatemala, Belize and parts of Mexico. The Maya excelled at agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, calendar-making and mathematics, and left behind an astonishing amount of impressive architecture and symbolic artwork. The Maya were most known for the cities they built, amassing over 40. Piazzas, palaces, temples and pyramids have been unearthed and courtyards for playing ball games. Farming communities lived outside the cities. Deeply religious, the Mayans worshipped various gods and the kings were claimed to be related to the gods. Mayan Civilization had declined in AD 900. No one is quite sure why but theories involve extensive war fare, depleted resources and a natural disaster which may have buried the cities in the lowlands. Contains maps, paintings, artefacts and photographs to show how the Mayans lived. Ideally suited for readers age 8+ or teachers who are looking for books to support the new curriculum for 2014. If you enjoy reading about the Mayan Civilization then take a look at Ancient Greece, Ancient Sumer, Benin 900-1897 CE, The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China and Early Islamic Civilizations.

Clare specializes in non-fiction books for children of pre- and primary school age. Her favourite subjects are animals, history, art and culture. She has been shortlisted for the prestigious Aventis Junior Science Prize, and won a dozen Practical Pre-School Gold Awards. When she's not writing, Clare likes spending time with her family, taking long walks, going to the theatre and watching contemporary dance - her favourite dancer is Akram Khan.

Twelve colourful spreads take readers through the many fascinating facets of Mayan life, from ritual bloodletting to stargazing. Added impetus is given by the cartoon figure Sherlock Bones, a canine detective whose paw prints appear throughout the book, prompting kids to solve various mysteries ("Why did parents press their babies' heads between boards?") There are also some suggestions for Mayan-themed projects, including writing Mayan rulers' names in hieroglyphics. This slim, lightweight book is perfect for sliding into a child's backpack for plane or train journeys. And if you are going elsewhere, there are lots more in this History Detective Investigates series, with other new titles out soon, including the Indus Valley and Early Islamic Civilisation. -- Rhonda Carrier * The National Geographic Traveller magazine *