Maya History and Religion

by J. Eric S. Thompson, David M. Pendergast (Foreward), Elizabeth Graham (Foreward)

A correlation of data from colonial writings and observations of the modern Indian with archaeological information in order to extend and clarify the panorama of Maya culture.

Genres: History, Religion

466 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Sir John Eric Sidney Thompson was an archaeologist specializing in the Mayan areas of Mexico and Central America, who was long associated with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Sir Thompson also was awarded the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, commander of the Spanish Order of Isabel la Católica, and Fellow of the British Academy.

Reviews

[Erik Graff]

In preparation for traveling to Quintana Roo in the NE Yucatan, Mexico I read Coe's The Maya and Thompson's Rise & Fall of Mayan Civilization and Maya History & Religion. Of the three, Coe was the best introduction and, as events proved with the eventual decipherment of the Mayan script, more accurate.

[Kevin Hutson]

read in college

[Chris]

This was one of the books I did an independent study course for my senior year. if you're an anthropology buff, this is a great 'ethnology' on the maya.

[Margot]

Way too technical without much meat.