Product Description
From the archaic period, through the great Mayan civilization and the "Middle" civilizations of Olmecs, Toltecs and others, to the glory of the Aztecs, this classic study offers a comprehensive survey of the extent and variety of pre-Columbian civilizations in the New World. Profusely illustrated with47 black-and-white plates, 86 text figures. New Introduction by Bruce E. Byland. Bibliography. Index, Map. Diagram of American Chronology.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Spinden's Second Greatest
Some of Spinden's ideas have fallen by the wayside. The most notable idea is that the Classical Period dates from 300-600 AD rather than the 300-900 AD that is now accepted. The crux of this debate hinges upon correlations with the Maya Long Count calendar. To make a complex story short, the Mayans spanned their temple doorways with sopadilla wood beams which have been carbondated. The combination of correlations and carbon-dating prove the Classical Period lasted three more centuries than Spinden thought. (For more, see chapter 8 of Michael Coe's _The Maya_.)

Spinden also thought that the Mayan govt was largely theocratic (p 97). This idea has also fallen by the wayside especially since the further decipherment of the Mayan language. (To which Spinden contributed an insight or two. For example, after viewing a photograph from Piedras Negras, Spinden made the suggestion that inscriptions that began with bat heads
should be read "here follows a name." Decades later he turned out to right.)

In all honesty this is Herbert Spinden's second greatest book. His greatest was _The Study of Maya Art_ (pub in 1913) because in it Spinden gives the first art-historical treatment of the Maya. Readers will see that this book (orig pub in 1928) has much of the same to say as that former one. Though much has happened since this book was written, the art-historical treatment is still the strong point of this book. It is the through this lens that Spinden portrays the history and culture of the peoples who once lived in Mesoamerica.

A reprint of an outdated book
This book was first published in 1928. Since that time our understandingof ancient Mesoamerica has changed dramatically. This is a verbatim reprintof the original book, with a new introduction that sets Spinden and thebook into historical context. If one is interested in the development ofideas about Mesoamerica in the early 20th century, this is a useful book.If one wants to find out about those civilizations, however, this is NOTthe book to read. Many of Spinden's ideas were proven wrong in the 1930s;by 2000, the number of errors in the book is enormous. There has been muchfieldwork, decipherment, and other research on these cultures in recentdecades. Look for one of the many recent books about the Aztecs, Mayas, andother Mesoamerican civilizations. Dover should continue reprinting codices(the Codex Borgia and Codex Nuttall are great reprints!), and stay awayfrom outdated textbooks.

A fine survey of pre-Columbian life and culture.
Ancient Civilizations of Mexico and Central America is written by a curator expert on the topic and provides a concise, excellent history of the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. Any interested in early anthropology works will relish this fine survey of pre-Columbian life,essential to a beginning study of the region and its history. ... Read more

Product Description
The Historical Dictionary of Ancient South America describes our current knowledge of the indigenous peoples who lived in South America prior to the arrival of the Europeans in the 1500s. Through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 700 cross-referenced dictionary entries on names of sites and archaeological groups or cultures; material items, such as architectural elements, deities, and crops; and famous archaeologists who have worked in South America, the prehistory of all the regions in South America are covered. ... Read more

Product Description
From the soil of Central America sprang the great civilizations of the Maya and the Aztec, whose history was violent and savage. The Caribbean was the site of the great encounter between the Old and New Worlds, and the region suffered some of the fiercest excesses of colonization. This book tells the story of Central America and the Caribbean from prehistoric times to the present, and also provides a study of the region's wildlife and natural history. ... Read more

Product Description
This book examines the long and complex history of human occupation in North America, covering its distinct culture areas of the Arctic, California, Eastern Woodlands, Great Basin, Great Plains, Northwest Coast, Plateau, Southwest, and Subarctic. Complete with maps, a chronology that spans the history from 11,000 B.C. to A.D. 1850, an introductory essay, more than 700 dictionary entries, and a comprehensive bibliography, this reference is a valuable tool for scholars and students. An appendix of museums that have North American collections and a listing of archaeological sites that allow tours by the public also makes this an accessible guide to the interested lay reader and high school student. ... Read more

Product Description
The epic story of the American-educated boys who changed China forever.At the twilight of the nineteenth century, China sent a detachment of boys to America in order to learn the ways of the West, modernize the antiquated empire, and defend it from foreigners invading its shores. After spending a decade in New England’s finest schools, the boys re-turned home, driven by a pioneering spirit of progress and reform. Their lives in America influenced not only their thinking but also their nation’s endeavor to become a contemporary world power, an endeavor that resonates powerfully today.

Drawing on diaries, letters, and other first-person accounts, Fortunate Sons tells a remarkable tale, weaving together the dramas of personal lives with the momentous thrust of a nation reborn. Shedding light on a crucial yet largely unknown period in China’s history, Fortunate Sons provides insight into the issues concerning that nation today, from its struggle toward economic supremacy to its fraught relationship with the United States. 40 black-and-white illustrations ... Read more