National Geographic Mysteries of the Maya: The Rise, Glory, and Collapse of an Ancient Civilization

This highly illustrated special collector's edition from National Geographic delves deep into the "Mysteries of the Maya," exploring the dramatic arc of one of the ancient world's most brilliant and enigmatic civilizations. Moving through three definitive eras—the rise, the peak of glory, and the sudden, catastrophic collapse—this comprehensive volume brings the world of the Maya to life through world-class journalism, cutting-edge archaeological discoveries, and stunning photography.

Readers are taken on a visual journey through the dense jungles of Central America to explore majestic limestone pyramids, ancient astronomical observatories, and royal tombs of cities like Tikal, Palenque, and Chichen Itza. The book unpacks their advanced mathematical systems (including the concept of zero), their highly accurate calendar systems, and the complex hieroglyphic writing that epigraphers are still decoding. Crucially, it examines the latest LiDAR laser-scanning technology that reveals hidden mega-cities beneath the jungle canopy, while investigating the complex combination of severe droughts, warfare, and overpopulation that led to the civilization's mysterious abandonment of their great urban centers.