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Title: Tikal

Subtitle: The History of the Ancient Maya's Famous Capital

Author: Charles River Editors, Jesse Harasta

Narrator: Paul Christy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 06-16-15

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: History, World

Publisher's Summary:

Many ancient civilizations have influenced and inspired people in the 21st century. The Greeks and Romans continue to fascinate the West today. But of all the world's civilizations, none have intrigued people more than the Mayans, whose culture, astronomy, language, and mysterious disappearance all continue to captivate people. In 2012 especially, there was a renewed focus on the Mayans, whose advanced calendar led many to speculate the world would end on the same date the Mayan calendar ended. But if anything, the focus on the "doomsday" scenario overshadowed the Mayans' true contribution to astronomy, language, sports, and art.

The Mayans maintained power in the Yucatan for over 1,000 years, and at the height of its Classical era (the third-ninth centuries AD), the city of Tikal was one of the power centers of the empire. Archaeologists believe Tikal had been built as early as the fifth or fourth century BC. Eventually it became a political, economic, and military capital that was an important part of a far-flung network across Mesoamerica. Despite the fact that it was seemingly conquered by Teotihuacan in the fourth century AD, it seems the foreign rulers came to assimilate Mayan culture, thus ensuring Tikal would continue to be a power base. As a result, the city would not be abandoned until about the 10th century AD.

As one of the Ancient Mayan's most important sites, construction at Tikal was impressive, and even though it was apparently conquered, the city's records were unusually well preserved. This includes a list of the city's dynastic rulers, as well as the tombs and monuments dedicated to them. Thanks to this preservation, Tikal offers researchers their best look at the Ancient Mayans and has gone a long way toward helping scholars understand Mayan history.

Members Reviews:

A perfect introduction to the Maya

An excellent condensed but thorough account of Tikal from its earliest days when the huge nearby Maya city of El Mirador began to wane, and on through Tikal's conquest by Teotihuacano invaders from beyond the faraway Valley of Mexico - who exterminated the reigning Maya bloodline but preserved the city and began its own dynasty - and the later ups and downs of alliances, competition and war with newer Maya cities and Tikal's final abandonment. Having visited Tikal with the opportunity to explore most features between the tall Temple I down the Tozzer Causeway to Temple IV, I found Harasta's book fascinating for its details about things that our guide showed us without the explanations of discoveries yet to be made but are revealed in this history, which is surprisingly up to date. For anyone who finds the Maya interesting, I don't know of a better introduction. It isn't loaded with unfamiliar technical terms, but may whet your appetite for reading more advanced works such as those of Linda Schele and David Stuart, among others. Highly recommended.

Slim booklet

This is an informative history of Tikal but it's just a very slim booklet, little more than a museum brochure. I was hoping for something more substantial.