  We perform a detailed comparison of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe
(WMAP) measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and
polarization anisotropy with the predictions of quintessence cosmological
models of dark energy. We consider a wide range of quintessence models,
including: a constant equation-of-state; a simply-parametrized, time-evolving
equation-of-state; a class of models of early quintessence; scalar fields with
an inverse-power law potential. We also provide a joint fit to the CBI and
ACBAR CMB data, and the type 1a supernovae. Using these select constraints we
identify viable, target models for further analysis.
