The Mayans

By Louise Spilsbury

Jump into the past and visit the world of the mysterious Mayans. Get the lowdown of gruesome sacrifice. Discover why the Mayans wore the heads of their enemies. Take a peek inside the world of the spooky Mayan priest, find out why children were cross-eyed, and discover the world’s first chocolate money as you hunt down the secrets of the dead!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781496644558

Louise Spilsbury

Louise Spilsbury is an experienced author of nonfiction books for young people. Her writing covers a wide range of topics from animals and science to history and social studies.

Book preview

History Hunters: The Mayans by Louise Spilsbury

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER

TITLE PAGE

INTRODUCTION

THE ANCIENT MAYANS

DIGGING UP THE PAST

POWERFUL GODS AND A DARK UNDERWORLD

TOWERING PYRAMIDS AND HUMAN SACRIFICES

GOD-KINGS AND BURIAL MASKS

CALENDARS AND CALCULATIONS

FIERCE WARS AND NEW WEAPONS

HARD WORK AND DANGEROUS GAMES

RICH TRADERS AND CHOCOLATE MONEY

FANCY PALACES AND HUMBLE HUTS

DRINKING CHOCOLATE AND INSECT SNACKS

DRESS TO IMPRESS

CRACKING THE CODE

GLOSSARY

READ MORE

INDEX

COPYRIGHT

BACK COVER

Through the book you will find Deadly Secrets that show an historical object. Use the clues and the hint to figure out what the object is or what it was used for. Then check the answer to see if you are right.

THE ANCIENT MAYANS

The mighty Mayans ruled the forests of Mesoamerica (Southeast Mexico and Central America) for 1,200 years. The first Mayans were farmers. They lived in small villages near water. They hunted for food in the surrounding swamps and marshes.

Gradually, powerful kings began to control Mayan villages. From around 1000 BCE, different kings ruled about 20 separate areas, known as city-states. Each major city had its own king. He ruled the city and the surrounding smaller cities, farms, and villages.

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Tikal was one of the most important Mayan cities. Up to 100,000 people might have lived here. There would have been farmhouses and fields stretching as far as the eye could see.

Cities of Power

At the peak of their power, there were more than 40 Mayan cities, with up to 50,000 or more people crowded into them. The cities were very similar. In the center, there was always a