Waubonsee Community College

The Aztecs, new perspectives, Dirk R. Van Tuerenhout

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

mapsillustrations

index present

non fiction

The Aztecs

bibliography

57641467

Dirk R. Van Tuerenhout

ABC-CLIO's understanding ancient civilizations

new perspectives

A wealth of new archaeological findings and interpretations has sparked a richer understanding of the Aztecs, dispelling many myths. The Aztecs: New Perspectives looks at evidence from ancient, colonial, and modern times to present a contemporary, well-rounded portrait of this Mesoamerican culture. Like no other volume, it examines daily Aztec life both at, and away from, the seats of power, revealing the Aztecs to be accomplished farmers, astronomers, mathematicians, and poets--as well as ruthless warriors and tireless builders of empire. The Aztecs ranges from the mysterious origins of the Aztlan tribe to the glory years of empire and ultimate defeat. But the story doesn't end there. To present the most complete picture possible, the author goes to the most fascinating source available--the living ancestors who keep the Aztec language and many aspects of their ancient worldview alive. There is no better volume for exploring the realities of Aztec life as it was, and as it influences our world today. --Publisher

pt. 1. Introduction -- 1. Introduction -- Overview -- The issue of jargon terminology versus "plain English" -- Anthropology : with what kind of animal are we dealing? -- Contributions made by other fields of study -- Who were the Aztecs? -- Why is it important to study them? -- Overview by chapter -- Sources of information on the Aztecs -- pt. 2. Aztec civilization -- 2. Location of the Aztec civilization and environmental setting -- Location -- Environmental setting -- 3. Historical and chronological setting -- An overview of Aztec studies -- Chronological framework -- The Aztec imperial lineage -- Where do we get the dates for Aztec chronology? -- Written sources : Precolumbian and colonial documents -- 4. Origins, growth, and decline of Aztec civilization -- Aztlan : place of origin -- The heyday of the Aztec -- The conquest -- 5. Economics -- The internal economic system -- Long-distance trade -- Regional and local-level trade -- Aztec subsistence methods : how did the Aztecs feed themselves? -- 6. Social organization and social structure -- Aztec social organization -- Social stratification -- Aztec life cycle -- Settlement patterns : Aztec cities and farms -- Demographic estimates : how many Aztecs were there? -- Case study : population estimates for Tenochtitlan -- 7. Politics -- The archaeological record and ancient political systems -- The concept of Aztec rulership -- Imperial succession -- Dangers inherent in the system of uncertain succession -- Administration in the capital -- Provincial administration -- Rural political organization -- Warfare -- Overall aspects of Aztec warfare -- Cessation of hostilities -- 8. Religion and ideology -- The concept of Teotl -- Aztec creation stories -- Belief in heavens and underworld -- Confession -- Sacrifice -- Politics and religion -- Aztec religious ceremonies -- Aztec religion and ideology : some final thoughts -- 9. Material culture -- Sources -- Architecture -- Public works -- Domestic buildings -- Ceramics -- Stone tool production -- The arts -- 10. Intellectual accomplishments -- Mathematics -- Calendar -- Aztec cosmovision -- Astronomy -- Writing -- The Aztec education system -- Aztec philosophy -- Aztec legal system -- Medicine -- Art, music, and dance -- 11. The Aztecs : bloodthirsty or people like us? -- Human sacrifice -- What happened to Aztec culture and its people? -- Politics -- The introduction of Christianity : implementation and implication -- Future directions -- Glossary -- Chronology