The Aztecs
by Richard F. Townsend, Richard Townsend
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Book Summary Information
Author: Richard F. Townsend, Richard TownsendEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-04
ISBN: 0500281327
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Book Reviews of The Aztecs
Book Review: Another Thames and Hudson success
Summary: 5 Stars
I wondered as i was reading this book how it was that the Aztecs who had historically recorded populations of 100,000 plus,never had a terrible ecological disaster as the Mayan civilization supposedly did.Surely with Aztecan confederacy type populations there must have been a high use/misuse of resources. Could it be that the Aztecs had thought out a way to avoid such disasters as faced the Mayan civilations.Probably?
One way was the setting aside of large areas of timber and etc. and designating them as sacred so people could not inhabit them without offending the Gods. This seems like an early form of todays National Parks,the Aztecs therefore early consevationists.These are some of the type interpretations a person could gather from reading Townsends' book.Tenochtitlan while no doubt an architectural splendour,would not have downgraded to any degree the vast Aztecan style ceremonial centers in the outlying and mountainous regions of the Mexican valley.You get the feeling from this book of the Aztecs as an industrious,religious,artistic type people.
No doubt however that Aztecan society was highly stratified and warfare, tied to their religion,a major force in the expansion of their empire.The Aztecan empire was still in existence when the Spanish arrived so there is some written records available.I found the descriptions and numerous pictures of the "skull racks" along with the authors familiarity with Aztec warfare and human sacrifice,morbidly fascinating.Ther are lots of pictures and maps.Another excellent Thames and Hudson book.I was wondering after reading the book and noting the similarities between these Mesoamerican Sun Kingdoms. Maybe when the Mayan civilization collapsed,the remnants moved to the Mexican valley and tried to improve on the lessons from the Yucatan Peninsula.
Summary of The Aztecs
A portrait of a fascinating, complex civilization. Beginning with the story of the Spanish conquest, the text then charts the rise of the Aztecs from humble nomads to empire builders. Within 100 years they established the largest empire in Mesoamerican history and, at Tenochtitlan, built a vast city in a lake, a Venice of the New World. This revised edition has been updated, assimilating information from archaeological excavations and ethnohistoric studies, and widening the picture of Aztec culture beyond their cities. Additional material on topics ranging from local crafts, trade, agriculture and food to architecture, society and women's roles depicts the richness of life in villages and regional centres. Illustrations of archaeological sites, pictorial manuscripts and monuments enhance the narrative.Mexico Books
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