The Not So Peaceful Civilization: A Review of Maya War

@article{Webster2000TheNS,
  title={The Not So Peaceful Civilization: A Review of Maya War},
  author={David L. Webster},
  journal={Journal of World Prehistory},
  year={2000},
  volume={14},
  pages={65-119}
}
The first Maya encountered by Europeans in the early sixteenth century were exceedingly warlike, but by the 1940s the earlier Classic Maya (AD 250–1000) were widely perceived as an inordinately peaceful civilization. Today, in sharp contrast, conflict is seen as integral to Maya society throughout its history. This paper defines war, reviews the evidence for it in the Maya archaeological record, and shows how and why our ideas have changed so profoundly. The main emphasis is on the Classic… Expand
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