Chichen Itza History, Art and Monuments

The Maya are one of the America's most original and complex cultures. Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the Northern Maya Lowlands from the Late Classic period (c. AD 600-900) through the Terminal Classic period (c. AD 800-900) and into the early portion of the Postclassic period (c. AD 900-1200). The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico and of the Puuc and Chenes styles of the Northern Maya lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion. This volume displays beautiful color photos on nearly every page along with a two page map of the compound.