The Origins of Maya States (University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology a)

Synopsis

The Pre-columbian Maya Were Organized Into A Series Of Independent Kingdoms Or Polities Rather Than Unified Into A Single State. The Vast Majority Of Studies Of Maya States Focus On The Apogee Of Their Development In The Classic Period, Ca. 250-850 C.e. As A Result, Maya States Are Defined According To The Specific Political Structures That Characterized Classic Period Lowland Maya Society. The Origins Of Maya States Is The First Study In Over 30 Years To Examine The Origins And Development Of These States Specifically During The Preceding Preclassic Period, Ca. 1000 B.c.e. To 250 C.e. Attempts To Understand The Origins Of Maya States Cannot Escape The Limitations Of Archaeological Data, And This Is Complicated By Both The Variability Of Maya States In Time And Space And The Interplay Between Internal Development And External Impacts. To Mitigate These Factors, Editors Loa P. Traxler And Robert J. Sharer Assemble A Collection Of Essays That Combines An Examination Of Topical Issues With Regional Perspectives From Both The Maya Area And Neighboring Mesoamerican Regions To Highlight The Role Of Interregional Interaction In The Evolution Of Maya States. Topics Covered Include Material Signatures For The Development Of Maya States, Evaluations Of Extant Models For The Emergence Of Maya States, And Advancement Of New Models Based On Recent Archaeological Data. Contributors Address The Development Of Complexity During The Preclassic Era Within The Maya Regions Of The Pacific Coast, Highlands, And Lowlands And Explore Preclassic Economic, Social, Political, And Ideological Systems That Provide A Developmental Context For The Origins Of Maya States.-- Rather Than Unified Into A Single State, The Pre-columbian Maya Were Organized Into A Series Of Independent Kingdoms Or Polities. The Vast Majority Of Studies Of Maya States Focus On The Apogee Of Their Development In The Classic Period, Ca. 250-850 Ce. In Fact, Maya States Are Defined By The Specific Political Structures That Characterized Classic Period Lowland Maya Society. The Origins Of Maya States Is The First Study In Over 30 Years To Specifically Examine The Origins And Development Of These States During The Preceding Preclassic Period, Ca. 1000 Bce To 250 Ce. Coverage Includes Material Signatures For The Development Of Maya States, Evaluations Of Extant Models For The Emergence Of Maya States, And Advancement Of New Models Based On Recent Archaeological Data. Attempts To Understand The Origins Of Maya States Cannot Escape The Limitations Of Archaeological Data, And This Is Complicated By Both The Variability Of Maya States In Time And Space, And The Interplay Between Internal Development And External Impacts. To Mitigate These Factors, The Origins Of Maya States Combines An Examination Of Topical Issues With Regional Perspectives From Both The Maya Area And Neighboring Mesoamerican Regions To Highlight The Role Of Interregional Interaction In The Evolution Of Maya States. At The Core Of The Study The Development Of Complexity During The Preclassic Era Is Discussed Within The Maya Regions Of The Pacific Coast, Highlands, And Lowlands. This Is Followed By Studies Of Preclassic Economic, Social, Political, And Ideological Systems To Provide A Developmental Context For The Origins Of Maya States--provided By Publisher. Introduction. 1. The Origins Of Maya States : Problems And Prospects / Robert J. Sharer And Loa P. Traxler ; 2. Maya States : The Theoretical Background In Historical Overview / Astrid Runggaldier And Norman Hammond -- Part One. The Mesoamerican Context. 3. Preclassic Central Mexico : The Uncertain Pathway From Tlatilco To Teotihuacan / David C. Grove ; 4. The Early Preclassic Olmec : An Overview / Ann Cyphers ; 5. Western Kingdoms Of The Middle Preclassic / John E. Clark -- Part Two. The Maya Area. 6. Regional And Interregional Interactions And The Preclassic Maya / Francisco Estrada-belli ; 7. Early States In The Southern Maya Region / Michael Love ; 8. Cultural And Environmental Components Of The First Maya States : A Perspective From The Central And Southern Maya Lowlands / Richard D. Hansen -- Part Three. Theoretical Contexts. 9. Rethinking The Role Of Early Economies In The Rise Of Maya States : A View From The Lowlands / Eleanor M. King ; 10. Middle Preclassic Maya Society : Tilting At Windmills Or Giants Of Civilization? / Marcello A. Canuto ; 11. Ideology And The Early Maya Polity / Simon Martin. Edited By Loa P. Traxler And Robert J. Sharer. Proceedings Of The Conference The Origins Of Maya States, Held In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 10-13, 2007. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 545-681).