An exploration of ancient Mesoamerica, the Olmecs, Maya, Toltecs and Aztecs, with 500 sumptuous images

A highly accessible and authoritative popular history of Mesoamerica and its ancient peoples, fully illustrated with over 500 photographs.

A highly readable, authoritative history of Mesoamerica and its many peoples, from the Olmecs and Maya to the Toltecs and Aztecs ... Discvoer Mesoamerican myths and legends from creation tales to stories of the gods and goddesses, and the mythology of fertility, harves and the afterlife"--P. [4] of cover.

This wide-ranging reference book covers almost 3000 years, offering enthralling insights into the art and architecture, myths and legends, and everyday life of Mesoamerica. Stories of sun-gods and blood sacrifice, of pyramids and temples, and of the fabulous treasuries filled with gold have fascinated many generations. The World Heritage sites of historic Mexico City and Tenochtitlan, Teotihuacan, Chichen Itza, Tikal and Monte Alban are examined in detail. This unrivalled volume is not only a perfect introduction to the history of these lost civilizations, but also a stunning visual record of a unique period that has helped to shape our world.

A highly readable, authoritative history of Mesoamerica and its many peoples, from the Olmecs and Maya to the Toltecs and Aztecs ... Discvoer Mesoamerican myths and legends from creation tales to stories of the gods and goddesses, and the mythology of fertility, harves and the afterlife"--P. [4] of cover.

The Maya have been an enigma since their discovery in the mid- 19th century. Maya science developed an elegant mathematic system, an incredibly accurate astronomy, and one of the world's five original written languages. This technology was more advanced than similar European technology by more than a thousand years. In this book, you'll see how James O'Kon, a professional engineer, synergistically applied field exploration, research, forensic engineering, and 3-D virtual reconstruction of Maya projects to discover lost Maya technological achievements. These lost principles of technology enabled Maya engineers to construct grand cities that towered above the rainforest, water systems with underground reservoirs for water storage, miles of all-weather paved roads tracking through the jungle, and the longest bridge in the ancient world. Maya engineers developed structural mechanics for multi-story buildings that were not exceeded in height until the first "skyscraper" built in Chicago in 1885, invented the blast furnace 2,000 years before it was patented in England, and developed the vulcanization of rubber more than 2,600 years before Charles Goodyear. Discover a host of unknown wonders in The Lost Secrets of Maya Technology.