The Aztecs
2nd Edition
Published on 20. September 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
392 pages
978-0-631-23016-8 (ISBN)
Description
This book is a vivid and comprehensive account of the Aztecs, the best--known people of pre--Columbian America. It examines their origins, civilization, and the distinctive realms of Aztec religion, science, and thought. It describes the conquest of their empire by the Spanish, and the fate of their descendants to the present day in Central Mexico, making use of the results of the latest excavations, historical documentation, and the authora s first--hand knowledge. There is also a fascinating and detailed account of the daily life of the Aztec people, including their economy, family life, class system, and food. This second edition updates the original text with new descriptions of major archaeological sites such as Malinalco and Tlatelolco and expanded coverage of codices, religion, and areas distant from the capital. Dozens of photographs and illustrations have been added for this edition, making this the most informative and up--to--date treatment of Aztec civilization.
Reviews / Votes
"Michael Smith is widely recognized as one of the few scholars whose work on Aztec society has creatively combined both archaeological and ethnohistoric methods. This research experience bears fruit in his revised edition of The Aztecs, an authoritative scholarly work that incorporates the results of the most recent research, but which, at the same time, is written in a style that makes it an ideal textbook for college courses." --Richard E. Blanton, Professor of Anthropology, Purdue University "Smith uses evidence from Aztec archaeology, ranging from the Templo Mayor to rural farmsteads, to complement the traditional picture based on chronicles and art history. The strength of this book is his synthesis of the social archaeology of everyday Aztec life established by recent excavations." --Norman Hammond, Professor of Archaeology, Boston UniversityMore details
Series
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Edition type
Revised edition
Illustrations
62 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
568 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-631-23016-8 (9780631230168)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Michael E. Smith is Professor of Anthropology at the State University of New York at Albany. He has directed excavations at numerous Aztec sites and is co--editor (with Marilyn Masson) of The Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica: A Reader (Blackwell, 1999).
Content
List of Figures. List of Tables. Preface. Guide to Pronunciation and Spelling. 1. The Aztecs of Mesoamerica. Who Were the Aztecs? Mesoamerican Context. The Aztec Environment. Sources of Information. Ethnohistory. Archaeology. Aztec Studies Today. Box: Reading a Ritual Codex. 2. The Rise of Aztec Civilization. Timetables. Pre--Aztec Civilizations. The Aztlan Migrations. The Growth of City--States: The Early Aztec Period. Tenochtitlan and Empire: The Late Aztec Period. BOX: Reading a Historical Codex. 3. People on the Landscape. How Many Aztecs? The Aztec Diet. Farming Systems. Rural Settlement. The Rural Landscape. 4. Artisans and their Wares. Utilitarian Crafts. Luxury Crafts. Otumba: an Aztec Craft Center. 5. The Commercial Economy. Marketplaces. Merchants. Money. Material Evidence for Aztec Commerce. 6. Family and Social Class. Growing Up Aztec. Adult Life and Social Roles. Social Classes. Commoners. Nobles and Their Palaces. 7. City--State and Empire. City--States. Relations among City--States. The Empire of the Triple Alliance. Imperial Strategies and Control. Mexica Propaganda and the Limits of Empire. 8. Cities and Urban Planning. City--State Capitals. Provincial Cities and Towns. Tenochtitlan. 9. Creation, Death and the Gods. Myths of Creation. Aztec Religion: Historical Background. The Gods. Death, Burial, and the Afterlife. 10. Temples and Ceremonies. Priests. Human Blood Offerings. The Templo Mayor. Public Ceremonies. Private Rituals. 11. Science and Art. Writing. Calendars and Astronomy. Technology. Medicine. Art. Literature and Poetry. Music and Dance. 12. Final Glory, Conquest and Legacy. The Final Century, 1428--1519. Conquest by Spain. The Nahuas under Spanish Rule. Continuity and Change. The Aztec Legacy: Modern Nahua Indian Culture. The Aztec Past and the Mexican Present. A Wider Perspective. Notes. Glossary of Nahuatl Terms. References. Index.