Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America / Third and Revised Edition

The book provides a systematic survey of pre-Columbian cultures in Mexico and Central America, organizing material by chronological horizons and archaeological evidence. It examines origins of agriculture and archaic pottery, Mayan architecture, sculpture, hieroglyphs, calendar systems and astronomical reckoning, and the art and institutions of Zapotecan, Olmec, Totonac, Toltec, and Aztec-related societies. Chapters discuss social organization, religious beliefs, monumental and minor arts, and methods used to reconstruct history from inscriptions, codices, and material remains, illustrated throughout with site descriptions, maps, and museum examples.