THE MAYA CIVILIZATION
INTRODUCTION
The ancient land of Mesoamerica, encompassing the entire Yucatan peninsula, was once home to the great Maya civilization. For years their rich culture remained shrouded in mystery—the wild Amazonian rain forest housing the culture and a violent colonial history probably pitched in their bits in further enhancing it. But with fresher discoveries of ancient archeological sites and scientific reinterpretations of their unique Calendar system, this image is fast changing. What is emerging is altogether different from the earlier Maya image, of a totally isolated and somewhat alien civilization, created by popular imagination. Its place has been taken by a far healthier attitude, which is eager to know, to learn about these amazing people and their culture.
