Michael D. Coe

An account of the New World's greatest ancient civilization, the Maya.

"The food of the gods": Delicious indulgence or cause of migraines? Aphrodisiac or medicinal tonic? Religious symbol or Mesoamerican currency? This tale of one of the world's favorite foods draws upon botany, archaeology, socioeconomics and culinary history to present for the first time a complete and accurate history of chocolate. The story begins some 3000 years ago in the jungles of lowland Mexico and Central America, with the tree Theobroma cacao and the complex processes necessary to transform its bitter seeds into a beverage. Chocolate was consumed in generally unsweetened liquid form and used as currency by the sophisticated Maya, and the Aztecs after them. The Spanish conquest of Central America introduced chocolate to Europe as a luxury item; then industrialization made it a food for the masses. From Maya hieroglyphs to the Hershey Bar, this is a fascinating history, enhanced with quotations, illustrations and old recipes.--From publisher description.

Contains 56 maps, 329 illustrations, and accompanying text describing ancient American art, history, and archaeology.

"The inside story of one of the great intellectual breakthroughs of our time - the last great decipherment of an ancient script - now revised and updated."--BOOK JACKET.

"Presenting "the real deal" of American antiquity-- as opposed to the hyped fare of many cable TV shows-- Kenneth Feder invites readers to explore the stunning technological, architectural, engineering, and artistic achievements of America's first peoples. Part travel guide, part friendly reference, Ancient America showcases fifty iconic and publicly-accessible sites located across the contiguous United States-- including monumental pyramids of earth, "castles" ensconced in cliff niches, and vast rock art galleries. Among the places profiled are four World Heritage Sites (Chaco Canyon, NM; Mesa Verde, CO; Cahokia, IL; Poverty Point, LA); numerous Historic Landmarks and National Monuments (including Crystal River, FL; Town Creek Mound, NC; Casa Grande, AZ; and Hovenweep, UT); and stunningly diverse sites ranging from Serpent Mound (OH) and Horsethief Lake (WA) to Canyon de Chelly (AZ) and Nine Mile Canyon (UT). In addition to practical visitor information, Feder tells the fascinating stories of each site as revealed by archaeological research. Introductory chapters delve into the deep past of Native America; historical and cultural details as well as original photography round out the site entries. Readers will be inspired to visit these remarkable places where the past continues to resonate in the present."--Amazon.com.

The art of the Maya has been the subject of research, the results of which has shed much new light on the Maya scribes and their world. Their artistic achievements in stone, wood, stucco, shell, ceramics, murals and screenfold books are unsurpassed in pre-Columbian America. They are examined in detail in this book with the aid of many and varied photographs.

An introduction to the geography, history, economy, culture, government, and people of the very varied country of Mexico.