The Aztecs

Lost Civilizations

Frances F Berdan author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Reaktion Books

Published:14th Jun '21

Should be back in stock very soon

The Aztecs cover

In this rich and surprising book, Frances F. Berdan shines fresh light on the enigmatic, ancient Aztecs, the Nahuatl-speaking people living in the Basin of Mexico from ad 1325 to 1521. She casts her net wide, covering topics as diverse as ethnicity, empire-building, palace life, etiquette, origin myths and human sacrifice. While sometimes described as ‘stone age’, the Aztecs’ achievements were remarkable. They built wondrous city-states such as Tenochtitlan and Texcoco, constructed lofty temples and produced fine arts in precious stones, gold and shimmering feathers. They crafted beautiful poetry and studied the sciences. They had schools and libraries, entrepreneurs and money, and a bewildering array of deities and dramatic ceremonies. Based on the latest research and lavishly illustrated, this book reveals the Aztecs to be a civilization of sophistication and finesse.

[Written] with style and verve . . . Berdan’s Aztecs is more of a general survey, but one based on a lifetime of research and study. * New York Review of Books *
Most of this knowledgeable and accessible introduction to the Aztecs – the fruit of a lifetime’s study – is concerned with matters such as food and drink, textiles and dress, pottery and art objects, dwellings and architecture, the social divisions of society, trade and the economy, religion and mythology, and, inevitably, the notorious Aztec penchant for human sacrifice . . . Some excellent illustrations add to the volume’s readability. * Science *

In this compact illustrated volume, Berdan provides us with a wealth of fascinating detail about Aztec life. For the general reader, her book makes a wonderful introduction to the subject, wearing its considerable scholarship lightly and bringing this lost civilisation of Mesoamerica to vivid life.

* Minerva magazine *
This accessible book is thorough, well-illustrated, and highly recommended as a comprehensive insight into a fascinating civilisation. -- Mark Merrony * Antiqvvs *
Part of the Lost Civilizations series published by Reaktion Books, The Aztecs suggests new ways of seeing its subject: instead of focusing on leaders like the ill-fated Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin, she expands her lens to include the people they governed. * Mexico News Daily *
The Aztecs is wonderfully informative and insightful, totally up to date and draws together a large body of evidence about Aztec society and culture, from codices to ethnohistory and archaeology. Written by a leading Aztec scholar who has spent decades producing pivotal and groundbreaking research, this book is a delight – accessible yet intellectually challenging, and full of stimulating information and captivating detail. * Elizabeth Baquedano, Senior Honorary Lecturer at the Institute of Archaeology, UCL *

ISBN: 9781789143607

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

232 pages