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In this second edition, author John S. Henderson has revised his introduction to Maya culture and added photographs and drawings. He explores the Mayan cultural tradition from the earliest traces of settlement throogh the period of Spanish conquest in the 16th century. The ancient Mayas are understood to have been the only fully-literate precolumbian people in the Americas and the author incorporates deciphered Maya texts in his reconstruction of ancient Maya societies. As scientists, the Mayas developed a sophisticated mathematics, and an intricate calendar system. Theirs was one of the few complex societies to emerge in and adapt successfully to a tropical forest environment. Their architecture, sculpture and painting are all investigated in this volume. The account explores diverse aspects of the Maya world, including religion and philosophy, the environments of the various Maya peoples and their links with neighbours and relatives in the area. Throughout, consideration is given to the interaction among Maya societies and particularly to the importance of cultural variations from region to region, as well as the common Maya heritage.