Classic Maya polities of the southern lowlands : integration, interaction, dissolution / edited by Damien B. Marken, James L. Fitzsimmons.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Classic Maya Polities of the Southern Lowlands investigates Maya political and social structure in the southern lowlands, assessing, comparing, and interpreting the wide variation in Classic period Maya polity and city composition, development, and integration. Traditionally, discussions of Classic Maya political organization have been dominated by the debate over whether Maya polities were centralized or decentralized. With new, largely unpublished data from several recent archaeological projects, this book examines the premises, strengths, and weaknesses of these two perspectives before moving beyond this long-standing debate and into different territory. The volume examines the articulations of the various social and spatial components of Maya polity--the relationships, strategies, and practices that bound households, communities, institutions, and dynasties into enduring (or short-lived) political entities. By emphasizing the internal negotiation of polity, the contributions provide an important foundation for a more holistic understanding of how political organization functioned in the Classic period. Contributors include Francisco Estrada Belli, James L. Fitzsimmons, Sarah E. Jackson, Caleb Kestle, Brigitte Kovacevich, Allan Maca, Damien B. Marken, James Meierhoff, Timothy Murtha, Cynthia Robin, Alexandre Tokovinine, and Andrew Wyatt"-- Provided by publisher.

""Discussions of Classic Maya political organization have been dominated by debate over whether it was centralized or decentralized. This book examines the premises, strengths, and weaknesses of these two perspectives while leading a longstanding debate into new territory and providing a more complete comprehension"--Provided by publisher"-- Provided by publisher.

Print version record.

1. Introducing Maya polities : models and definitions / Damien B. Marken and James L. Fitzsimmons -- 2. From the ground up : household craft specialization and Classic Maya polity integration / Brigitte Kovacevich -- 3. Negotiated landscapes : comparative regional spatial organization of Tikal and Caracol / Timothy Murtha -- 4. Political interaction : a view from the 2,000-year history of the farming community of Chan / Cynthia Robin, Andrew Wyatt, James Meierhoff, and Caleb Kestle -- 5. Conceptualizing the spatial dimensions of Classic Maya states : polity and urbanism at El Perú-Waka', Petén / Damien B. Marken -- 6. Tomb 68-1, Copan : deducing polity dynamics during the early Classic period and beyond / Allan L. Maca -- 7. La Sufricaya : a place in Classic Maya politics / Alexandre Tokovinine and Francisco Estrada-Belli -- 8. The charismatic polity : Zapote Bobal and the birth of authority at Jaguar Hill / James L. Fitzsimmons -- 9. Governing polities : royal courts and the written landscape of late Classic Maya politics / Sarah E. Jackson -- 10. Ideas of city and state : Classic Maya polities of the Southern Lowlands / James L. Fitzsimmons and Damien B. Marken.

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