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What is the best, scholarly intro book to Mesoamerica?

I'm used to quite-heavy reading. I don't mind the heavy use of footnotes. I prefer it actually.

What is the best, more-than-lay-person, less-than-practicing-Mesoamerican-archaeologist introduction to the history of Mesoamerican history/archaeology? One preferably that impinges upon LDS claims about Book of Mormon historicity in a Mesoamerican context (<==that's bonus).

Thanks.

CKS

LOL, I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this thread, because I wasn't sure what my ilk was.... glad to know it's just nerdy mesoamerican fan.

I think the best intro to Mesoamerica is Handbook to Life in the Ancient Maya World, by Lynn V. Foster. It is straightforward, and has a good lay-out. It does have lots of references, which is often how I decide what book to get next. I check out the references in good books I've already read.

My second recommendation is for the Jaredite period, which is even more problematic. For that I'd go with The Olmecs: America's First Civilization by Richard Diehl.

My third recommendation focuses mostly on the religious aspect, which, of course, underpins all other understanding of ancient Mesoamerica. Religion was everything. Religions of Mesoamerica: Cosmovision and Ceremonial Centers by David Carrasco.

If you want to get more specialized, there's a book with compilations of essays on Ancient Mesoamerican Warfare, edited by Kathryn Brown. It's good because warfare is a such a big part of the Book of Mormon.

The book Maya Political Science by Prudence Rice is a tad more speculative, but does a great job helping you really grasp how important the major polities were in the evolution of Maya thought.

A fun read that reveals more about common thoughts about the ancient America during Joseph Smith' time is Romancing the Maya - Mexican Antiquity in the American Imagination 1820-1915 by R. Tripp Evans. Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon have their own chapter.

edit on: I have to add a good intro is Arthur Demarest's Ancient Maya, too - I prefer Handbook due to the lay-out, though.

beastie wrote:LOL, I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this thread, because I wasn't sure what my ilk was.... glad to know it's just nerdy mesoamerican fan.

I think the best intro to Mesoamerica is Handbook to Life in the Ancient Maya World, by Lynn V. Foster.

Thanks. Just ordered Handbook to Life in the Ancient Maya World.

I appreciate it. I'll get to the others later.

CKS

I suggest the Old Testament.

Lucky for Beastie that the ilk hunt has now concluded.

Quick, guys, I need something to distract me from problems I see in the Bible. What's another "sacred" book to poke fun at?

LifeOnaPlate wrote:Quick, guys, I need something to distract me from problems I see in the Bible. What's another "sacred" book to poke fun at?

I recommend facing them like a man. But if you still need something to distract you after that, I've discovered I'm quite fond of the back-episodes of "Chuck" on the NBC website.

LifeOnaPlate wrote:Quick, guys, I need something to distract me from problems I see in the Bible. What's another "sacred" book to poke fun at?

Have you tried Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures? I hear that one's always good for a laugh.

it's just a manuscipt but it's title is To kill a Nephite by Harper Lee