National Geographic's Lost Kingdoms of the Maya

National Geographic's Lost Kingdoms of the Maya
by Nicolas Noxon, Robert Guenette, Bert Haanstra, Ed Spiegel (II), Barbara Jampel

National Geographic's Lost Kingdoms of the Maya
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VHS Tape Cover Information

Actor: Burgess Meredith
Director: Barbara Jampel, Bert Haanstra, Ed Spiegel (II), Nicolas Noxon, Robert Guenette
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
Running Time: 60 minutes
Release Date: 1997-07-08
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: Nat'l Geographic Vid
Studio: Nat'l Geographic Vid

VHS Movie Reviews of National Geographic's Lost Kingdoms of the Maya

Movie Review: A Fairly Good Documentary
Summary: 4 Stars

This video was reasonably interesting, especially in its discussion of the Classic Maya Cities of Copan and Dos Pilas. I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of diversity regarding sites covered. Copan is certainly one of the more important Maya cities and it deserved coverage, but what about Tikal, Palenque, Yaxchilan, and Bonampak, just to mention a few others. They also might have considered some coverage of some of the Epi-classic & Post-Classic cities, such as Uxmal, Chichen-Itza, and Tulum; as these sites are also favorite tourist destinations.
The video is also somewhat dated, as so many recent discoveries have since added volumes of knowledge about these amazing people. All in all, it is still a good video that does wet the appetite for more learning about the Maya.

Summary of National Geographic's Lost Kingdoms of the Maya

Long before Columbus, the Maya established one of the most highly developed civilizations of their time in the jungles of Mexico and Central America. Yet this advanced society of priests, astronomers, artisans, and farmers suddenly and mysteriously collapsed more than a thousand years ago. Accompany archeologists to Copan, Dos Pilas, and other spectacular Classic Maya ruins as they unearth artifacts and huge temples of incredible beauty. Recently deciphered hieroglyphics and other new discoveries offer astounding clues to the lives of these ancient people. You'll hear the startling story of one kingdom's downfall and its final desperate hours of violent warfare. Through spine-tingling recreations, witness ancient rituals reenacted on sites where they originally occurred. And meet the enduring Maya who still maintain many of their ancestor's traditions. You'll hear the voices of a magnificent civilization as you uncover LOST KINGDOMS OF THE MAYA.
Who were the Mayans? The answer depends on who you ask. Legend has it that the gods made them from corn. Armchair cultural critics with little more than a page-long encyclopedia entry's worth of knowledge see them as a ritualistic, dynastic people with a strong penchant for boulder hackysack. Take an hour-long tour of Lost Kingdoms of the Maya with host Susan Sarandon, however, and you'll see a culture that defies any handy categorization. Composed of a web of several hundred Central American kingdoms at the height of its powers, the Mayan empire was a cosmopolitan center of art and science that also had a taste for battle.

So what exactly happened to make the Paris of its time suddenly vanish? Puzzle along with archeologists and epigraphers as they try to piece history back together, one building and astrological codice at a time. Don't expect any pat answers, however. While a few educated guesses endure (overpopulation? deforestation? an out-of-control thirst for war?), the true reason for the Mayan fate might be best summarized in the true if not elegant words of one Mayan expert: "Civilization is a complex phenomenon, and we can screw up." --Bob Michaels

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