The sophisticated courts of the classic Maya offer a trove of information and artifacts. Classic Maya civilization (Third through Ninth centuries CE) came to its florescence in the form of a network of interconnected city-states, each with its own dynasties of ruling elites and court culture, whose interactions involved trade, marriage alliances, warfare, treaties, diplomacy, and civic and religious ceremonials. At the heart of these city-states are the impressive architecture of palaces, temples, and ball-courts; intriguing relief carvings of deities, kings, queens, and scribes; painted ceramic vessels; and richly appointed burials.

Cultural historian George Scheper, an expert on the indigenous cultures of the Americas, explores the storied splendors of Copan and Tikal, and how the decipherment of Maya glyph-writing has opened new worlds of written history of the dynasties of these impressive sites. Scheper is a senior lecturer in the Master of Liberal Arts program at Johns Hopkins University. He will be presenting via Zoom as part of the Smithsonian Associates program.