The Ancient Maya

xxxii, 520 pp. Includes illustrations and fold-out maps."...traces their history from its shadowy beginnings in the third or second millennium Before Christ, through the Maya Old Empire (A.D. 317-987), their first and greatest period of culture brilliance, through the May New Empire, which witnessed their Renaissance and final decline (A.D. 987-1542) until after the Spanish Conquest (A.D. 1542-1697)."--jacket