The Maya

300 B.C. – A.D. 800

The Maya civilization, known for its remarkable achievements, thrived in Mesoamerica. Chichen Itza, a major Maya city, features impressive structures like the Pyramid of Kukulcán. The Maya were also among the first to cultivate cacao, giving rise to chocolate. They played the Mesoamerican ball game, which was not only a sport but also had significant ritual and political importance, often with life-and-death stakes.

Picture books

The Chocolate Tree

Mayan folktale about the origin of chocolate
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Rain Player

Folk tale from Mayan mythology featuring their ball game
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If You Were Me and Lived in… the Mayan Empire

Great introduction to the Mayan Empire for younger readers
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Chapter books

Corn Grows Ripe

Award-winning novel for middle-grade readers about a Mayan boy
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Lady of Palenque: Flower of Bacal, Mesoamerica, A.D. 749

Fictional Royal Diary set in ancient Maya
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Maya Gods and Monsters: Supernatural Stories from the Underworld and Beyond

Collection of stories from Mayan mythology
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Non-fiction books

Analyze the Ancients: The Maya

Ancient Mayan facts and illustrations
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Forensic Investigations of the Maya

Exploration of the Maya through the lens of forensic science
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Ancient Maya

Ancient Mayan facts and photos
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Why were Mayan games so deadly?

Facts about Mayan culture and history in fun Q&A format
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Where Is Chichén Itzá?

Detailed, comprehensive intro to Chichén Itzá and Mayan history
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Time Travel Guides: The Maya and Chichén Itzá

Intro to the Maya and Chichén Itzá as a time travel guide
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You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Mayan Soothsayer!

Humorous, informative look at Mayan soothsayers and life more broadly
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Activities

Amazing Ancients! World of the Maya

Activities inspired by the ancient Maya
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Maya: Amazing Inventions You Can Build Yourself

Build-it-yourself Mayan projects
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The Maya: Activities and Crafts from a Mysterious Land

Activities and crafts inspired by the ancient Maya
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