Maya History for Kids

Get your Indiana Jones gear ready for this adventure! We are going on a journey to the jungles of Mesoamerica (Central America) to visit the amazing sights left behind by the ancient society of the Maya people! Secrets await you on this special journey, so keep reading…

Did you know that the Egyptians weren’t the only ones to build pyramids? Around 2,000 years ago, the Maya people were raising pyramids to house their many gods, and to bury their kings. This is just one of the special secrets uncovered by archaeologists in their stunning finds in parts of Central America. Modern-day Indiana Jones scientists have told us so much about these tribes; are you ready to learn more?

This book uncovers the mysteries surrounding the Maya, who suddenly dropped off the face of the earth – or so it would seem. Find out the latest theories surrounding their disappearance, and learn about:
The Olmecs, the people living there before the Maya
Why rubber trees and vine juice were so important
How a 15-year-old schoolboy from Canada discovered …
4,000-pound stones carried from 50 miles away – by men!
Corn and rain gods and snakes with feathers!
The tools they made from hard stones
Did they really eat their own dogs?
Human sacrifice – but why?
How discoveries at LaBlanca changed a timeline
Important cities in the Mayan civilization
Math and writing and . . . stars and calendars?
Raised rivers, running three miles above the city!
How did this civilization end – and why so abruptly?

More than anything, the Maya left us with many questions. It’s the job of scientists and archaeologists to explain how a thriving people came to such a quick end. There are no simple answers, but we can discover so much with a shovel and brushes! Come, explore this fascinating civilization with us – and don’t forget your Indiana Jones hat!