Berthold Riese’s "Die Maya: Geschichte, Kultur, Religion" (C.H. Beck Wissen) provides a concise, academic overview of Maya history, covering their development from the Pre-Classic period to contemporary society. The text highlights Maya achievements in astronomy and hieroglyphics while debunking sensationalist myths about the civilization's collapse. You can find more information about the Beck Wissen series on the C.H. Beck website.