Ancient Maya

by Barbara A. Somervill

Take a journey back in time to witness the development of history's greatest civilizations! Engaging text and eye-catching images teach you about history, culture, and daily life of each civilization and show you how each civilization continues to affect our world today!

112 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Barbara Somervill is a professional writer who has been a magazine editor, journalist, and advertising copywriter for more than twenty years. Somervill is a member of the National Association of Female Executives, the Association of Women in Communications, and the International Documentary Association.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers and researchers will enjoy this engaging text with eye-catching images and appealing layout detailing the history, culture, and daily life of the ancient Mayan civilization. Somervill not only provides an overview to the past of the Mayas, but explores how this civilization continues to impact current events; each chapter includes a section: “The Past is Present.”

Peripherals include brief biographies of personalities that influenced Mayan history, from Chak Tok Ich’aak I in 360 to contemporary Nobel Peace Prize recipient Roberta Mench Tum. A colorful fimeline traces the Mayan world from 21,000 BCE through archeological excavations in 2011 A.D. There is an extensive glossary and index, accompanied by a brief list of related readings.

Sure to become a “go to” volume in any school or public library, Somervill’s text will be useful in supporting World History, Ancient History, and Latino studies in classes from middle- through high-school.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for gr. 5-12. A colorful, informative book. Almost every page features a photograph or drawing with caption. Chapters are short and well laid out. There is a series of sidebars called “The Past is Present” showing Mayan discoveries and practices that are still used today. Highlighted words in the text are defined on the same page as well as in a glossary in the back. The final chapter discusses the Maya today. There is a section of biographies which span ancient times to the present, and also a timeline, a “find out more” bibliography, detailed index and table of contents. A worthy addition to references on the ancient Maya.