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Explore the Ancient World Student Reseach Guide Guidelines
Research Tips

Unit 1
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4

    • Unit 2
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7

    • Unit 3
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10

    • Unit 4
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13

    • Unit 5
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
  • Chapter 16
  • Chapter 16A

    • Unit 6
  • Chapter 17
  • Chapter 18
  • Chapter 19
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    Unit 5: The Foundation of Western Ideas - Chapter 16A: The Maya

    Key Words: cacao beans, codex, hieroglyphs, maize, Maya, Mayan (language), Mesoamerica, obsidian, Palenque (and other sites such as Tikal, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Mayapan, El Mirador, Copán, Kaminaljuyu), rain forest, slash and burn agriculture
    Fiction Books
    Gerson, Mary-Joan. People of Corn: A Mayan Story. New York: Little Brown & Co., 1995. This is a beautifully illustrated retelling of a Maya creation myth. It gives a wonderful sense of the lush plant and animal life of Maya country. Fiction.

    Gifford, Douglas. Warriors, Gods and Spirits from Central and South American Mythology. New York: Schocken, 1983. This is a collection of folktales from various cultures, including the Maya. Lovely illustrations. 132 pages. Fiction.
    Nonfiction Books
    Johnson, Sylvia A. Tomatoes, Potatoes, Corn, and Beans: How the Foods of the Americas Changed Eating around the World. New York: Atheneum, 1997. This book looks at how each of these foods was grown and used by peoples of the Americas, and how the foods made their way to other parts of the world. A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. 144 pages. Nonfiction.

    Linares, Frederico N. A Day with a Maya. Minneapolis, MN: Runestone Press, 2000. The first part of this book presents a history of the Maya; the second part is a fictionalized account of a Maya artisan's day in the kingdom of Palenque. A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. 48 pages. Nonfiction and fiction.

    Lourie, Peter. The Mystery of the Maya: Uncovering the Lost City of Palenque. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2001. This book tells about the history of the Maya, shows wonderful drawings and photographs of Palenque and the people who live in the region now, and gives a glimpse of how archaeologists work. 48 pages. Nonfiction.

    Stathis, Roberta and Gregory Blanch. Women Who Ruled. Brea, CA: Ballard & Tighe, Publishers, 2004. This beautifully illustrated book includes a profile of Lady Kanal-Ikal. 80 pages. Nonfiction.
    Web Sites
    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/maya/
    Lost King of the Maya. Tour Copán and watch a real video, explore Maya ruins, and learn how to read hieroglyphs all on this companion site to the PBS television series NOVA.

    http://www.smm.org/sln/ma/
    Maya Adventure. Be an archaeologist at an ancient Maya site! Brought to you by the Science Museum of Minnesota, this interactive web site offers fun activities, interesting experiments, and a chance to record all your archeological findings.

    http://www.learner.org/exhibits/collapse/mayans.html
    Collapse: Why Do Civilizations Fall? Find out! Dig up the history of the Maya civilization with online articles, hands-on activities, clues, and cool links to the past.

    http://www.civilization.ca/civil/maya/mminteng.html
    Mystery of the Maya. Learn all about the Maya civilization from the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Explore Maya geography, astronomy, religion, royalty, and more.

    http://www.michielb.nl/maya/astro.html
    The Maya Astronomy Page. This site, dedicated to Maya math and science, provides information on astronomy, numbers, writings, and the calendar, and offers a forum for students to share their thoughts.

    http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/bureau/
    National Geographic Kids: The Amazing Travel Bureau. Join J.B., Sam, Sara, and Marisol as they take you on an exciting adventure through a Maya pyramid. Encounter ancient masks, jaguars, and Maya glyphs, and discover secrets of the temple.

    http://webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-mayan.html
    Calendars through the Ages. Calculate the Long Count Date, learn the Tzolkin Start and the Haab, and find out what all this means! This site makes sense of the Maya calendar and provides fascinating information about its origins and purpose.

    http://www.mayankids.com/mkintro.htm
    Mayan Kids.com. Ever wonder about the history of chewing gum? This site has a wealth of information about the Maya culture, including a time line and geography, and provides a glossary, clipart for projects, and tons of cool games.

    http://www.mayadiscovery.com/
    Mundo Maya. The Maya World at your fingertips! Research Maya archaeology, nature, daily life, history, and more.

    http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
    National Geographic. Discover maps of the world, historical photographs, and interactive adventures on the National Geographic site.