I’m considering spending a few weeks visiting southeastern Mexico. I’m not planning to hangout on beaches, go clubbing, or stay at a resort. I’m more interested in visiting Mayan ruins, and then taking a cheap bus from one place to another. In the past I’ve generally enjoyed the *shoestring, low-budget backpacker* type of travel.
But I’ve also enjoyed visiting places much more when I have some context and I know about them. Reading about the history of Vietnam made it much more enjoyable to see ruins of temples and to walk through the city parks (because I could recognize things and draw connections that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to).
Are there any good books to understand the history of the Mayan people, to understand how Mexicans in the current day view these ruins and the history, or more generally to assure that I won’t arrive a ruin completely ignorant of everything? So far, all I’ve been able to find are dense academic works and very light Lonely Planet style guidebooks. Or is the least bad option for me to simply read a book on the history of Mexico?
by jlemien