Book Review the Fall of the Ancient Maya

• Domicile
• My Books

Open Preview

See a Problem?

We'd love your aid. Let us know what's incorrect with this preview of The Fall of the Ancient Maya by David L. Webster.

Thanks for telling u.s.a. about the trouble.

Friend Reviews

To run into what your friends idea of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

Be the first to enquire a question about The Fall of the Ancient Maya

Community Reviews

 · 65 ratings  · 10 reviews

Start your review of The Fall of the Ancient Maya: Solving the Mystery of the Maya Collapse

Very well written book with a ton of corking detail on the culture of the Maya. Overnice layout of chapters with lots of illustrations. Recommended

Mar 09, 2008 Dan rated information technology did non like it

Picked this upwardly in a "free books" pile on a local park bench. Figured what the heck -- it was a hardcover, in great status, and about something that fascinates me (visited the Xunantunich and Caracol ruins in Belize a couple years ago). Yet, and sadly enough, this was the first book in my 36 years that I simply could not cease. Dry out, repetitive, obtuse, indirect, and, believe information technology or not, far too much item. It's obvious that the Maya are the writer'southward life's work, only he seems to forget tha Picked this up in a "free books" pile on a local park demote. Figured what the heck -- it was a hardcover, in great status, and near something that fascinates me (visited the Xunantunich and Caracol ruins in Belize a couple years ago). Even so, and sadly plenty, this was the first book in my 36 years that I but could non stop. Dry out, repetitive, obtuse, indirect, and, believe it or not, far too much detail. It's obvious that the Maya are the writer's life's work, just he seems to forget that someone "on the other end" is actually READING this stuff. ...more

I e'er have a problem with anthrological studies. They tin can get and then lost in the weeds of what they're studying and excavating that it'due south difficult to find whatever narrative or argument. It's just piles of stuff. This volume on the plummet of the Maya doesn't even get around to discussing theories of the collapse until your over 200 pages into this book (which is near 350 pages of text, non including back textile). You lot tin discussions of various sites, and what the Mayans were and what collapse means and I always have a problem with anthrological studies. They can go so lost in the weeds of what they're studying and excavating that it'south hard to notice any narrative or statement. It'due south just piles of stuff. This book on the plummet of the Maya doesn't even get effectually to discussing theories of the collapse until your over 200 pages into this book (which is near 350 pages of text, not including back material). You can discussions of various sites, and what the Mayans were and what collapse means and what is meant by the word civilization, and ..... await, I understand why it'south all at that place. Merely in that location'south so much background material that the book's championship feels misleading.

At any rate - why'd the ancient Mayans fall? There are a bunch of traditional theories, and none work perfectly - and some don't work at all. Information technology was a combination of factors. Webster notes that saying "they all did it!" is lame, simply he does focus on a few main factors. Outset, is economic underproduction. He notes that his estimation is essentially Malthusian - they had besides many people and lacked the land space (he says their civilisation core was the size of Florida) and technology to keep up food product. Wars aggrevated the agricultural stresses. At that place was non much effective leadership to bargain with the problems. (He compares to a much later Aztec ruler, who built big aquaducts to assistance during a problem - no leadership with the Mayans was strong enough or able enough to exercise besides). Eventually, this discredited their erstwhile notion of kingship. Kings went all the style back for the Mayans, but there was always a sense that if something went wrong (or right) it was due to the person in accuse, non anything structural. For long times, kings cultivated this idea to justify their power. But now it turned effectually and backfired on them. If kings were to praise for success, and so screw them if there were problems. Kings were central to the Mayan political culture, so when information technology collapsed the aboriginal Mayan civilization collapsed.

There were even so enough of Mayans when the Spanish came - and at that place are still plenty now, but that's why the old Mayan centers fell into ruins.

It's a decent argument, but slogging through this book to observe it was a chore. I think I could've skipped the first 330 pages and gotten virtually as much out of it as I did.

...more than

Not enough explanation of how he came to particular conclusions.

Oct 24, 2011 Erik Graff rated it actually liked it

Recommends it for: Mayologists

Recommended to Erik past: Tom & Michael Miley

The study of the Maya has been a hobby since the fourth dimension of planning a first trip Qunitana Roo back around 1989. Now, visiting my old roommates, the Miley brothers, I notice that both of them have get interested in the topic, Tom intending a trip to the Yucatan this coming wintertime. Tom also intends a audio-visual composition about the Maya agenda. I read this book on their recommendation to get my hand back in.

Most of my piece of work in this field across visiting sites ranging from Cancun in the northward, C

The study of the Maya has been a hobby since the time of planning a first trip Qunitana Roo back around 1989. At present, visiting my sometime roommates, the Miley brothers, I find that both of them accept become interested in the topic, Tom intending a trip to the Yucatan this coming winter. Tom likewise intends a acoustic composition almost the Maya calendar. I read this volume on their recommendation to get my hand dorsum in.

Most of my work in this field across visiting sites ranging from Cancun in the north, Coba in the west and the Belize border to the south has been to read books I've encountered near the Maya. Being cheap, most of these books were used and, therefore, dated. Much progress has been made in the decipherment of the written language since the fourth dimension those books were published. Webster's book, having been published in 2002, was of involvement because it represents scholarship supplemented by a pretty thorough understanding of the aboriginal texts and inscriptions.

The "pretty thorough understanding" of what little remains of Mayan writing turns out to be rather disappointing. Thanks to zealous Christians and inclement climate most of their books were destroyed long ago and nosotros rely primarily on inscriptions and painted pottery, none of which convey very much. What remains is mostly about the elites, regnal dates, wars and astronomical and calendrical information.

Withal, with this prove it is possible for Webster to challenge many of the older, pre-decipherment hypotheses well-nigh why the Maya declined so in the five centuries earlier the Spanish conquest of their lands. While the former hypotheses tended to exist simplifying, tending towards the assumption of a generalized collapse, Webster's conclusions are more than nuanced, tracing the collapse as a plural phenomenon, dissimilar "cities" declining at different times at dissimilar rates for different reasons. One Maya metropolis even remained independent until 1696!

While written with the lay reader in heed, this is non properly an introductory text. Much about the Maya is not explained, the focus beingness more than on the refuse of their civilization than on its nature.

...more than

May 16, 2012 Lesley rated information technology did non like it

Recommends it for: No One

Recommended to Lesley by: Librarian

I checked this out at the library cause it was the 1 with the most information for my research paper. Sadly, it made me regret choosing that topic, which was my favorite at the time, considering the author concentrates more on criticizing other archaeologists and "Mayanists" than he concentrates on actually talking about what caused the "Collapse". While information technology has proven to have the most information in book grade that I needed than the other books I chose to cite as sources, next time I will cull Wi I checked this out at the library cause information technology was the one with the near data for my enquiry newspaper. Sadly, it made me regret choosing that topic, which was my favorite at the time, because the writer concentrates more on criticizing other archaeologists and "Mayanists" than he concentrates on actually talking nigh what caused the "Collapse". While it has proven to accept the nearly information in book class that I needed than the other books I chose to cite as sources, next time I will choose Wikipedia over David Webster should I choose some other "favorite" topic for a research newspaper if another of his books show to be the one with the seemingly most information. When I am researching a newspaper and choose a book over a free online encyclopedia, I want the book to focus on the topic, not on criticizing every archaeologist, "Mayanist", and theorist out there. ...more than

Reading virtually the Maya is one of my favorite things. I read everything from pure non-fiction (such as this book is) to Adrian Gilbert's "2012 - Mayan Twelvemonth of Destiny" that tells you lot what was supposed to happen in December 2012 (but didn't).

This book was skilful simply I was actually hoping to get some new insight into "solving the mystery" as the title implies. Instead it's a fairly straightforward account of the decline of the Mayan empire in Central America. I didn't find a lot of new ideas in this b

Reading almost the Maya is i of my favorite things. I read everything from pure non-fiction (such every bit this book is) to Adrian Gilbert's "2012 - Mayan Year of Destiny" that tells you what was supposed to happen in December 2012 (just didn't).

This book was expert only I was really hoping to get some new insight into "solving the mystery" equally the title implies. Instead information technology'southward a fairly straightforward account of the decline of the Mayan empire in Central America. I didn't observe a lot of new ideas in this book but it was interesting to run across in one place theories of the fall of the major cities (Copan, Tikal, Piedras Negras, etc.)

...more

Perchance a three.5...

This is a very interesting, but very dry out volume nigh the ancient Maya. I am not using dry history as an insult, past the way; I just think it's something to be aware of if you're looking for a light read. The author discusses several theories about why aboriginal Mayan culture may have collapsed, offering arguments for and confronting and coming to a multi-faceted conclusion of his own. I genuinely enjoyed this volume, just I did feel it covered the same ground a few times and in that respec

Possibly a 3.5...

This is a very interesting, but very dry volume about the ancient Maya. I am non using dry history as an insult, by the manner; I just think it'south something to be enlightened of if y'all're looking for a light read. The author discusses several theories about why aboriginal Mayan culture may have collapsed, offering arguments for and against and coming to a multi-faceted conclusion of his own. I genuinely enjoyed this book, but I did feel it covered the same ground a few times and in that respect was padded out a flake. However, I would recommend it if you have a serious interest in ancient Mayan history.

...more

Mar 10, 2011 Dan G rated it it was amazing

A comprehensive discussion of the many possible reasons for the plummet of classic Maya civilization.

Tells what could have happened to the Maya of near 800 A.D. Very well written

Goodreads is hiring!

If you like books and love to build cool products, nosotros may be looking for you lot.
Learn more »

News & Interviews

The cyberspace, it'due south safe to say, has changed a lot of things. Massive worldwide communication systems have a way of doing that.   One of the more...

Welcome dorsum. Just a moment while nosotros sign you in to your Goodreads business relationship.

leakharsecy89.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/813182

Share this post