Maya Political Science: Time, Astronomy, and the Cosmos

PrefaceNote on Orthography and DatesAcknowledgments1. Introduction: Approaches to Maya Political Organization  Explanation, Analogy, and the Direct-Historical Approach Sources for a Direct-Historical Approach: A Critical ReviewClassic Period Hieroglyphic InscriptionsNative Texts of the Postclassic and Colonial PeriodsSpanish Colonial DocumentsDictionariesModern EthnographyMaya Cosmology and Worldview2. Previous Reconstructions of Classic Maya Political OrganizationEarly ThoughtsThe Political Geography of the Yucatan MayaTwentieth-Century EthnographySite Size and Size-Hierarchy ModelsInscription-based ModelsThe Importance of Emblem GlyphsEmblem Glyph-based (and Other) Decentralized ModelsEmblem Glyph-based Centralized ModelsTime and Its Cycles3. Maya Politico-Religious CalendricsMaya Cosmology and Calendrical ScienceMaya CalendarsCalendrical OriginsCalendrical TransformationsThe Postclassic Maya MayThe May and Its SeatsThe Books of the Chilam B'alams and Rituals of the May Overview4. Tikal as Early Seat of the MayPreclassic Ritual Architecture and K'atun SeatsEarly Classic Tikal and Its RulersThe Institution of KingshipTikal's Dynastic FoundingTikal's Name and Emblem GlyphThe Dynasty ContinuesThe Central Mexican PresenceTikal in the Middle Classic PeriodThe Meaning of the MiddleOverview5. Tikal's Late and Terminal Classic Seating of the MayTikal as Late Classic May KuTwin-Pyramid GroupsTikal's Late Classic MonumentsLate Classic Period-ending Monuments in Tikal's RealmInterpretations: Tikal's Late Classic May SeatingTikal and Its May Realm in the Terminal Classic PeriodMonuments and ThemesOther Sites in Tikal's Terminal Classic May RealmOverview6. Other Classic Period May-based RealmsCopan, Honduras, and Quirigua, GuatemalaCalakmul, Campeche, MexicoOther Sites and RegionsCaracol, BelizePalenque and Tonina, Chiapas, MexicoDos Pilas, Peten, GuatemalaOverview7. New Terminal Classic May RealmsThe Southern LowlandsSeibal as May Ku: Structure A-3 Monuments Lake Peten ItzaUcanalThe Northern LowlandsThe Puuc RegionChich'en Itza, YucatanDzibilchaltun and CobaOverview8. Implications of the May ModelIdentifying the MayCalendrical Rituals Involving FireBurner RitualsNew Year's CeremoniesFire WalkingBallcourts and the BallgameMaya "Warfare"Dual RulershipOverview 9. ConclusionOrigin and Operation of the May SystemThe Classic Maya: A Theocratic StateBibliographyIndex