I'm definitely going to have to reread this one. There are interesting discussions on government structures, philosophy, and religion in this one. It is has a very cool and complex religion system that is used well when it comes up. 
This book is broken up into three time periods: a few months in 1012 during Mayan rule, December 2012 in Minnesota/Belize, and a few months in 3012. The writing lacked I think in the 2012 part, and there was very unnecessary incest in the 1012 part, but the 3012 part is what really kept me hooked. If it was simply set during that time for the whole book with little cut ins from the past for context, then I would be all about it.