The Aztecs: A Very Short IntroductionThis book presents a very short introduction to the Aztecs using interpretive tools from religious studies and anthropology to uncover the paradox of Aztec life; on the one hand a people highly skilled in sculpture, astronomy, city planning, poetry and philosophic rhetoric while on the other hand a people profoundly committed to cosmic regeneration through the thrust of the ceremonial knife and warfare. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Aztlan cities peoples | 16 |
3 Aztec expansion through conquest and trade | 38 |
4 Cosmovision and human sacrifice | 61 |
weavers of life and precious necklaces | 78 |
6 Wordplay philosophy sculpture | 92 |
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Common terms and phrases
alliance American ancient animals appears architecture arrived artists Aztec world Basin of Mexico became began bodies building called capital carried central century ceremonial Chapter city-states civilization Codex Mendoza communities conquest Cortés cultural dead death deities Díaz del Castillo divine eagle early earth empire evidence excavated face Feathered fire followed forces four goddess gods groups heart Huitzilopochtli human hundred indigenous journey kingdom kings known Lake land living lord major meaning Mesoamerica Mexico military Motecuhzoma mother mountain myth named native nobles offerings origins painted period plants political powerful practices precious Press priests Pyramid Quetzalcoatl religious returned ritual royal ruler sacred sacrifice sacrificed sculptures Serpent shows side social society Spain Spaniards Spanish stone story symbols Temple Tenochtitlan Teotihuacan thou Toltec took towns tribute University urban various warriors women