On March 13, 1697, Spanish troops from Yucatán attacked and occupied Nojpeten, the capital of the Maya people known as Itzas, the inhabitants of the last unconquered native New World kingdom. This political and ritual center--located on a small island in a lake in the tropical forests of northern Guatemala--was densely covered with temples, royal palaces, and thatched houses, and its capture represented a decisive moment in the final chapter of the Spanish conquest of the Mayas. The capture of Nojpeten climaxed more than two years of preparation by the Spaniards, after efforts by the military forces and Franciscan missionaries to negotiate a peaceful surrender with the Itzas had been rejected by the Itza ruling council and its ruler Ajaw Kan Ek’. The conquest, far from being final, initiated years of continued struggle between Yucatecan and Guatemalan Spaniards and native Maya groups for control over the surrounding forests. Despite protracted resistance from the native inhabitants, thousands of them were forced to move into mission towns, though in 1704 the Mayas staged an abortive and bloody rebellion that threatened to recapture Nojpeten from the Spaniards. The first complete account of the conquest of the Itzas to appear since 1701, this book details the layers of political intrigue and action that characterized every aspect of the conquest and its aftermath. The author critically reexamines the extensive documentation left by the Spaniards, presenting much new information on Maya political and social organization and Spanish military and diplomatic strategy. This is not only one of the most detailed studies of any Spanish conquest in the Americas but also one of the most comprehensive reconstructions of an independent Maya kingdom in the history of Maya studies. In presenting the story of the Itzas, the author also reveals much about neighboring lowland Maya groups with whom the Itzas interacted, often violently.

Introducing the "MAYAN KINGDOM" Book Bundle: Unveil the Enigma of Ancient Maya Civilization Unlock the captivating secrets of the Mayan civilization with our exclusive "MAYAN KINGDOM" book bundle. Delve into the intricate tapestry of Mayan mythology, astronomy, cosmology, and religion that shaped the destiny of an extraordinary civilization. This meticulously crafted collection is your passport to a journey through time, offering a comprehensive exploration of the Mayan legacy across four remarkable books: Book 1 - Dawning of the Jaguar Empire: Rise of the Mayan Kingdom (300 BCE - 250 CE) Step into the ancient past and witness the birth of a majestic empire. Explore the grandeur of the Mayan Kingdom as it emerges from the shadows of history. Unearth the foundations of their civilization, the birth of urban centers, and the rise of powerful dynasties that shaped their destiny. Book 2 - Glyphs of Eternal Wisdom: Exploring Mayan Cosmology and Knowledge (600 - 900 CE) Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the heart of Mayan cosmology. Decode the enigmatic glyphs and unravel the intricate web of their astronomical knowledge. Immerse yourself in their sacred calendar systems, celestial alignments, and cosmic perspectives that guided their lives and rituals. Book 3 - Scepters and Sacrifices: Collapse and Transformation of the Mayan Civilization (900 - 1200 CE) Witness the dramatic transformations and challenges faced by the Mayan civilization during its twilight years. Discover the factors that led to their decline and the resilience of their cultural spirit amidst adversity. Explore the remnants of abandoned cities and unravel the mysteries of their fading glyphs. Book 4 - Resurgence of the Resplendent Quetzal: Rediscovering the Ancient Mayan Legacy (20th Century - Present) Experience the reawakening of the Mayan legacy in the modern era. From archaeological awakenings to cultural revivals, trace the steps of explorers, scholars, and indigenous communities as they breathe new life into ancient traditions. Delve into the impact of the Mayan civilization on contemporary culture, art, and spirituality. Why Choose the "MAYAN KINGDOM" Book Bundle? 🌟 Comprehensive Exploration: Dive deep into the multifaceted aspects of Mayan civilization, from its rise to its enduring legacy. 🌟 Expert Insights: Benefit from the expertise of renowned scholars and researchers who bring the Mayan world to life. 🌟 Stunning Visuals: Immerse yourself in vivid illustrations, photographs, and maps that transport you to the heart of Mayan cities and rituals. 🌟 Engaging Narrative: Experience the captivating story of the Mayan civilization through well-crafted prose that bridges the ancient and the modern. 🌟 Thought-Provoking Reflections: Discover the profound impact of the Mayan legacy on our understanding of history, culture, and human spirituality. Unveil the captivating mysteries of the Mayan Kingdom with the "MAYAN KINGDOM" book bundle. Whether you're an enthusiast of ancient civilizations, a history aficionado, or a seeker of cosmic wisdom, this collection promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of one of the world's most remarkable civilizations. Order now and embark on a voyage through time, myth, and culture that will leave you enriched and inspired.

"This volume collects leading scholarship on one of the most important archaeological complexes in the ancient Maya world. The authors - internationally renowned experts who participated in the Copan Acropolis Archaeological Project - address enduring themes in Maya archaeology, such as symbolism and its use in elite legitimation strategies, demographics and ancient political economy, and the relationship between water management and social structure. In addition to site-specific breakthroughs involving dynastic sequences, epigraphy, and chronologies, these essays explore questions of broad interest to archaeologists and other anthropologists, including state formation, architecture and space, and the relationship between history and archaeology as well as among archaeology, epigraphy, and iconography. Synthesizing the new findings in the context of the long history of Maya archaeology, the volume takes stock of the field and suggests future directions for research."--BOOK JACKET.

Splendid color photos overshadow the text. No references. No index. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Mayan History Making sense of our universe...It's an age-old practice that transcends cultures and generations. From our vantage point, the larger than life Maya civilization grappled with the urge in a grand scale. Join us as we take a voyage to understand the ways of the Maya. Inside you will read about... - Who Made Contact? Early Explorers and their Impact - How the Maya Wanted to Be Represented - History Written by the Victors - Different Periods of Maya History - Larger Than Life - New Findings We'll learn what they held as sacred, how the sacred manifested itself in their lives, and about efforts to accurately portray them, despite romanticized versions. This eBook provides a deeper look at their pre-Columbian battling dynasties and their highly-structured approach to religion, science and society, as we explore their glories and misfortunes.

Ancient Maya comes to life in this new holistic and theoretical study.

Making sense of our universe...It's an age-old practice that transcends cultures and generations. From our vantage point, the larger than life Maya civilization grappled with the urge in a grand scale. Join us as we take a voyage to understand the ways of the Maya. Inside you will read about... ✓ Who Made Contact? Early Explorers and their Impact ✓ How the Maya Wanted to Be Represented - History Written by the Victors ✓ Different Periods of Maya History ✓ Larger Than Life ✓ New Findings We'll learn what they held as sacred, how the sacred manifested itself in their lives, and about efforts to accurately portray them, despite romanticized versions. This eBook provides a deeper look at their pre-Columbian battling dynasties and their highly-structured approach to religion, science and society, as we explore their glories and misfortunes.

Takes readers on a journey back in time in order to experience life during the Maya civilization, describing clothing, accommodations, foods, local customs, transportation, a few notable personalities, and more.

Chichén Itzá Although many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century, like the Greeks and the Romans, none have intrigued people like the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance continue to captivate people today. Chichén Itzá, the most visited and most spectacular of the Late Classic Maya cities, is at the center of the fascination. In the later years of Maya civilization, Chichen Itzá had been inhabited for hundreds of years. In developing columns and exterior relief decoration, Chichén Itzá probably had over 30,000 residents at its peak, with a spectacular pyramid, enormous ball court, observatory, and several temples to boast. The sacred cenote at Chichén Itzá, a sinkhole used for Maya rituals surrounding water, is of particular interest. The Maya regarded it as a primary concern because adequate water was rarely found on the limestone-based Yucatan surface. The underwater archeology conducted in the cenote at Chichén Itzá found that offerings (including people, possibly) were thrown into the sinkhole in honor of the Maya rain deity Chaac. Despite its long history, Chichén Itzá had a relatively short period where it dominated the region, lasting from 800-950 CE. Nowadays, guides take tourists to one of the temples called the Nunnery for no good reason other than that the small rooms remind them of a nunnery back home.

The two main kinds of roads were "sacbe" and "highways." Sacbes were the smaller, more local roads which connected cities to each other. They didn't have any pavement on them, but they're still considered roads by many Mayan scholars. highways are bigger and connect cities with each other. The highways were built using a combination of natural materials and man-made structures such as bridges, ditches, rivers etc.. These structures helped make sure that people could cross waterways without getting their feet wet in the process. The sacbes were made with small stones placed side by side along their entire length; however there are some cases where larger stones used for paving stone can be found at regular intervals within this type of infrastructure – even though these do not seem necessary for walking across since you would fall through them anyway! Some of the roads were made by cutting down trees to make canals for them to cross over. The canals were built to drain water from the fields. The roads were built to carry people and goods, as well as help with trade, military campaigns and religious ceremonies. On top of all that, they also helped with agriculture by transporting food from one place to another. The Mayans also built bridges across canals for people to cross over, made artificial hills so that the canals could be channeled more easily, and even built aqueducts to bring water into their cities. The canals of the Mayans were an engineering marvel in their day, and they still stand today as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient civilizations. However, one thing is often overlooked: these canal systems were not just built out of dirt and stone; they also had many artificial hills that helped channel the water more efficiently. These hills weren't just for decoration—they were actually critical to how water flowed through the city. It is interesting but there are different theories about how their ancient engineering and technology was used. We can only speculate. Some scientists believe that the Mayans had mastered a complex understanding of astronomy and mathematics. They also believed that they had a detailed knowledge of where the sun, moon, planets and stars would be at any time throughout history. The Mayans were able to predict eclipses thousands of years ago with great accuracy using only simple tools like shadows on stones or trees as indicators of when an eclipse would happen. Some scientists believe that the Mayans used their engineering skills to build massive pyramids which still stand today as testaments to their greatness as an ancient civilization. There have been suggestions in recent times that some kind of unknown energy lies within these structures; some say it's electromagnetic energy while others say it's gravitational forces coming from deep within our planet Earth itself!