A powerful civilization ruled Mesoamerica for millennia before mysteriously disappearing. We never knew exactly what sparked the catastrophe. But now one is confronted with dramatic new evidence. Can we finally reveal who killed the Mayans? The Mayans are famous for their pyramids, but they are even more famous for destroying great cities and perishing people within a few generations. Mayan society is under threat, and historian Nicola Gruber wants to know why.
He helped break the code of their ancient hieroglyphics, carved in stone and preserved in only four books. He tells the story of a powerful woman by trying to push the boundaries of our knowledge of how these men lived and died. New biographical evidence paints a bloody picture of genocide, dark warlords and a self-proclaimed warrior princess named Lady Six Days. She is a woman strong enough to lead armies and wage war in a male-dominated society. It would threaten the very foundations of a world that runs from southern Mexico through Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.
Lady Six Days was born in this advanced jungle civilization. It is a diverse alliance of regional kingdoms united by their bold architecture, as evidenced by hundreds of incredible limestone pyramids, temples and palaces. The Maya flourished in art, astronomy, mathematics, and a complex written language, while Europe remained firmly immersed in the Middle Ages.
But everything they gained was lost in just 200 years. By the 9th century AD, almost nothing was left, and no one left. What went wrong? Their seemingly strong company turns out to be weak within. So much so that even the actions of young women can be the catalyst for the end of the world. Nikolai Grube uncovers tantalizing new clues as he retraces the history of Mrs. Six Days.
