Culture and Customs of Guatemala proffers a well rounded portrait of the people of the land known for breathtaking highlands, brilliantly colored Mayan textiles, generations of ruthless dictators, and violence against the Mayas since the Spanish conquest. This Central American hotspot is the home to a majority of Mayas, their coexistence with Ladinos--the non--Mayas, and the issue of land ownership provide the framework for understanding contemporary society. The blend of Mayan and Ladino cultural identities that shape Guatemala today permeates Shea's discussion of history,...

Culture and Customs of Guatemala proffers a well rounded portrait of the people of the land known for breathtaking highlands, brilliantly colored Mayan textiles, generations of ruthless dictators, and violence against the Mayas since the Spanish conquest. This Central American hotspot is the home to a majority of Mayas, their coexistence with Ladinos--the non--Mayas, and the issue of land ownership provide the framework for understanding contemporary society. The blend of Mayan and Ladino cultural identities that shape Guatemala today permeates Shea's discussion of history,...