Ancient Americas: Aztec History & Art

THE AZTEC CALENDAR BOOKPLATES (Sample available)
art from a photo. Condition: NEW package of 10 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. We can also personalize the bookplates if you like - email us the name you want on the bookplate. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.75" H x 3" W. Content: This bookplate is a color representation of the Aztec Calendar symbolic of the ancient culture. Any questions or for a sample, click here to email us.
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THE AZTEC PARCHMENT BOOKPLATES (Sample available)
art by Frenta. Condition: NEW package of 10 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. We can also personalize the bookplates if you like - email us the name you want on the bookplate. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.5" H x 4.0" W. Content: This bookplate is a color representation of the ancient Aztec culture. The interior is a light brown/tan parchment color which does not show up well here. Any questions or for a sample, click here to email us.
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QUETZAL BOOKPLATES (Sample available)
art by I. Skorupych. Condition: NEW package of 10 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. We can also personalize the bookplates if you like - email us the name you want on the bookplate. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.5" H x 3.5" W. Content: Revered throughout ancient Mesoamerica and parts of South America, the Quetzal is a beautiful large bird of many colors. The name is from Nahuatl quetzalli, "large brilliant tail feather" (Wikipedia). This representation is a bit of a "stylized" Quetzal. Any questions or for a sample, click here to email us.
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THE ANCIENT AMERICAN CIVILIZATIONS (History of Civilization series)
by Friedrich Katz. B&W drawings. Cover photo: Mask representing the god Quezalcoatl, Aztec, c. 1500. Condition: NEW 2000 Phoenix Press Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: Originally published in Germany in 1969. Ever since Columbus set foot on American soil ("invaded" is the correct term), and convinced he had reached India, called the native populations Indians, the origins of the aboriginal inhabitants have been hotly debated. There are few empires about which such contradictory ideas persist as those of the Inca and the Aztecs. Katz Begins his study of the ancient American civilizations - spanning the vast period from the first peoples, thirty-five to fifty thousand years ago, to the Spanish Conquest of 1517 - with a discussion of the sources of our knowledge. He describes the inhabitants, their agriculture - and the cultural sphere of Mesoamerica. Tracing the development of the civilizations of pre-Columbian America from village communities to prosperous city states, this is a fascinating account of how these civilizations culminated in the magnificent empires of the Aztecs and Inca. [1 copy available]
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THE ART OF THE AZTECS
by Nigel Cawthorne. Beautiful color photos illustrate. Condition: NEW 1999 Octopus Publishing (London) hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: An interesting presentation of Aztec art which is an integral part of the history of and our understanding ot the the dominant Ancient American culture. The book itself is a work of art, including special touches such as metallic papers and inks with printed trace paper inserts to highlight details. The artworks are presented by "city" or geographical area of the Aztec empire as well as type. Chapters are: Who Were the Aztecs? ; Architecture; Mountain Shrines and Cliff Reliefs; Sculpture; Codices; Jewellery; Textiles and Weaving; Pottery and Ceramics. [1 copy available]
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AZTEC (Endless Path Series) [Aztec & Mesoamerican Art]
by Rachel Storm. Absolutely beautiful color photos illustrate. Condition: NEW 2006 Flame Tree (London) soft cover 384 pages), first printing. Glossy, thick paper makes this a beautifully produced book - and heavy! Content: As part of a new series celebrating philosophies and civilizations of the world, "Endless Path Aztec" explores the rich culture of the Aztecs, the pre-Columbian people of Mesoamerica who thrived from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries. With the help of beautiful illustrations the reader is taken back to learn about their vibrant and complex life, art and rituals. Includes Olmec, Toltec, and Zapotec civilizations. Beautiful and informative. [1 copy available]
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AZTEC: A Novel (Historical Fiction)
by Gary Jennings. Condition: UNREAD 1980 Atheneum hardcover & DJ (in mylar jackaet), Book Club Edition. Problem: DJ has 2 "repaired" tears top edge. Interior perfect. Content: Reviewer: "The most conspicuous element of this entire book is how Jennings is able to blend accurate history of the 16th century with lessons of life that are sure to be timeless. What I mean is that while reading this, not only will you learn a ton about Aztec society and culture and its subsequent end at the hands of Cortes from a people-wide perspective, but you also get to see this same conquest from the eyes of the narrator Mixtli. I love historical fiction, and because I didn't know much about the Aztecs prior to picking this book up, it was a bullseye hit in that respect. Furthermore--and what makes this book more than a mere history lesson--is that you a treated to seeing Mixtli's life progress from being a common citizen, through his rise to warrior, to his becoming nobility. This story is the real soul of the book, and there are passages that are as relevant today as they were 500 years ago when Mixtli spoke them. The bottom line is that this is a great book both for its historical fiction, as well as its sad/funny/awkward/inspiring/heartfelt/tragic, etc. story line that tells of Mixtli's life. It's a long book that will occupy your time, but it's so worth it. Get it now." Probably the best historical novel ever written. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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AZTEC: THE WORLD OF MOCTEZUMA
by Jane S. Day. Foreword by Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. Beautiful color photos of the artifacts, renderings, models, and art reproductions. Condition: UNREAD 1980 Atheneum hardcover & DJ (in mylar jackaet), Book Club Edition. Problem: DJ has 2 "repaired" tears top edge. Interior perfect. Content: A magnificently illustrated guide to the world of the Aztec people illuminates in colorful photographs and writing Aztec culture, religion, art, and activities of everyday life just prior to the Spanish invasion of 1519. Published in cooperation with the Denver Museum of Natural History. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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AZTEC THOUGHT AND CULTURE: A Study of Ancient Nahuatl Mind
by Miguel Leon-Portilla. Translated by Jack Emory Davis. B&W maps, drawings, and photos illustrate. Condition: UNREAD c. 2000 Univ. of Oklahoma Press trade paperback, 9th printing. Content: For at least two millennia before the advent of the Spaniards in 1519, there was a flourishing civilization in central Mexico. During that long span of time a cultural evolution took place which saw a high development of the arts and literature, the formulation of complex religious doctrines, systems of education, and diverse political and social organization. The rich documentation concerning these people, commonly called Aztecs, includes, in addition to a few codices written before the Conquest, thousands of folios in the Nahuatl or Aztec language written by natives after the Conquest. Adapting the Latin alphabet, which they had been taught by the missionary friars, to their native tongue, they recorded poems, chronicles, and traditions. The fundamental concepts of ancient Mexico presented and examined in this book have been taken from more than ninety original Aztec documents. They concern the origin of the universe and of life, conjectures on the mystery of God, the possibility of comprehending things beyond the realm of experience, life after death, and the meaning of education, history, and art. The philosophy of the Nahuatl wise men, which probably stemmed from the ancient doctrines and traditions of the Teotihuacans and Toltecs, quite often reveals profound intuition and in some instances is remarkably “modern.” This English edition is not a direct translation of the original Spanish, but an adaptation and rewriting of the text for the English-speaking reader. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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The AZTEC TREASURE HOUSE: New and Selected Essays
by Evan S. Connell. Condition: NEW 2001 Counterpoint large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Tiny edge wear to DJ edges. Remainder mark bottom edges. Content: A collection of new and selected essays by master craftsman Connell. He has long been attracted to the visionary and eccentric, to those people and events slightly outside the mainstream of human experience. His subjects are people of passion and purpose, events of legend and desire. He offers stories of the Anazasi, the "old ones" of the southwestern desert, of the grand explorers Marco Polo, Columbus, Magellan, and Ibn Batuta, of heretics, fanatics, scientists, cranks, and geniuses. There are tales of fabulous advances made in anthropology, archeology, astronomy, and linguistics. This is a book of great "celebrations of man's insatiable drive to probe unknown frontiers [that] read like superb novels," says Grover Sales. "[They] establish Connell as an important writer-poet-thinker with a truly original mind." The book comprises two previous collections, The White Lantern and A Long Desire, and two new essays never published in trade book form. The whole amounts to a dazzling monument to the career of one of America's finest writers. A few pieces consider historic clashes between "those traditional opponents Science and Religion." Fascinated by people who probe the outer limits of knowledge and geography, Connell provides a blow-by-blow account of the famous debate between Thomas Huxley and Bishop Wilberforce over evolution and describes the searing conflict between Galileo and the Catholic Church over heliocentrism. "White Lantern" the best essay of the bunch passionately (even enviously) details the amazing race to the South Pole between pragmatic Norwegian Roald Amundsen and romantic Englishman Captain Robert Scott, in a narrative even Jon Krakauer would admire. Connell sagely points out that "Amundsen, the victor, is not as renowned as the loser," because a dead hero (Scott died on the return trip) is more likely to captivate the public's imagination. Confessing a hopeless attraction to "buried treasure, monsters, ghosts, derelict ships, inexplicable footprints, and luminous objects streaking through the sky," Connell chronicles journeys of absolute, disastrous futility the searches for Atlantis, the Seven Cities of Gold and the Northwest Passage. These skillfully crafted essays will please any history, science or adventure buff. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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The AZTEC WORLD
edited by Elizabeth M. Brumfiel and Gary M. Feinman. Beautiful color photos of the artifacts plus additinal color photos and maps. Condition: NEW 2008 Abrams huge (and very heavy) soft cover, first printing. Content: These are photos and text about the Aztec artifacts at the Chicago Field Museum. A most beautiful and informative book. Excellent! Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE AZTECS (Indians of North America series)
by Frances F. Berdan. Wonderful color photo section with B&W maps, drawings and photos througout. Condition: UNREAD 1989 Chelsea House Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edgewear. Content: A wonderful overview of the Aztec Empire and civilization. Excellent! [1 copy available]
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AZTECS: AN INTERPRETATION
by Inga Clendinnen. Color and B&W photo section. B&W maps. Condition: UNREAD 1991 Cambridge University Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. This book is from my personal collection - I never got around to reading it. Content: Breakthroughs in historical topics most often come from discoveries of new texts or archaeological finds. Not so in this case. Here, rereading existing indigenous and Spanish documents (particularly the Florentine Codex of de Sahagun), as well as current scholarly literature, has yielded a riveting, fresh perspective on a seemingly exhausted topic, the pre-Columbian culture of the Aztecs of Mexico. Where previous authors have seen chronicles of empire building, the workings of economic systems, or reconstructions of social organization, Clendinnen finds tonalities of everyday life. How did the ordinary people of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital destroyed by Cortez, make sense of their world? How did the warriors, women, priests, and traders understand the brutal practice of human sacrifice for which Aztec society is notorious? The author's answers to these and other questions provide the general reader and specialist alike with a powerful, elegantly written interpretation that goes further than any yet in getting inside this extinct culture. It deserves a place on the shelf next to Jacques Soustelle ( Daily Life of the Aztecs , see below) and Nigel Davies ( The Aztecs: A History). [1 copy available]
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THE AZTECS (Revised Edition)
by Richard F. Townsend. Wonderful B&W photos and detailed artifact drawings and maps. Condition: NEW 2000 Thames & Hudson (LOndon) Trade Paperback, revised edition. Content: Fine scholarly history of the Aztecs from their 12th-century Toltec origins through the 16th-century Spanish conquest by Cort‚s. How was it that, landing on the Tabasco Coast in 1519, Hern n Cort‚s and his 500 soldiers--sons with no inheritance, failed planters, ex-gold-miners, freebooters--were able utterly to defeat Motecuhzoma, Aztec king and most feared ruler in Mesoamerica, and by 1521 conquer the Aztec confederation of city- states, with their population of 350,000? Here, Townsend (Curator, Department of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas/Art Institute of Chicago) draws from archaeological discoveries, Spanish records, and recent scholarship to explain the Conquest of Mexico and to illumine less generally known aspects of Aztec history: the everyday lives of kings and commoners; the interlocking calendars and festivals through which priests controlled their subjects; and the 400-year line of warrior/conquerors before Motecuhzoma. Ironically, the Aztec ritual of human sacrifice--in which the hearts of defeated warriors were torn beating from their bodies--contributed to the defeat of Motecuhzoma's own warriors: While Cort‚s's men fought to kill, Aztecs attempted to capture enemies for sacrifice. Elsewhere, Townsend's discussion of Aztec schooling reveals the depth of Aztec culture. There were two classes of schools--one for commoners, the other for nobility. In both, boys and girls were taught rhetoric, history, ritual dancing, and singing; in the calmecac for future leaders, the curriculum included law, architecture, arithmetic, astronomy, and agriculture. Interestingly, despite the Aztec success in the building arts and in supplying food for large cities, they had no beasts of burden- -everything was transported by water or by human porters; horses were introduced by the Spanish. A substantial history of satisfying scope and depth. (Illustrations--140) An "Aztec" classic. [1 copy available]
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THE AZTECS OF CENTRAL MEXICO: An Imperial Society
by Frances F. Berdan. B&W maps, drawings, & Codex reproductins. Condition: UNREAD c. 1990 Holt, Rinehart Trade Paperback, 9th printing. Light rubbings along back hinge with light edge wear to front cover fore edge. Interior clean & tight. Content: Who were the Aztecs, really? This book answers that question by covering the compelling story of a complex, imperial society in Central Mexico during the 15th and 16th centuries. It uses pre- and post-Spanish conquest documents and illustrations, as well as archaeological discoveries, to reconstruct the variety and "feel" of Aztec daily life at various status levels. This is a classic in Aztec history - some data may be somewhat dated, but still worth the read. [1 copy available]
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THE AZTECS OF CENTRAL MEXICO: An Imperial Society
by Frances F. Berdan. B&W maps, drawings, & Codex reproductins. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, c. 1990 Holt, Rinehart Trade Paperback, 2nd printing. Light edge wear with pale tanning to page edges. Content: Who were the Aztecs, really? This book answers that question by covering the compelling story of a complex, imperial society in Central Mexico during the 15th and 16th centuries. It uses pre- and post-Spanish conquest documents and illustrations, as well as archaeological discoveries, to reconstruct the variety and "feel" of Aztec daily life at various status levels. This is a classic in Aztec history - some data may be somewhat dated, but still worth the read. [1 copy available]
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AZTECS OF MEXICO: Origin, Rise and Fall of the Aztec Nation
by George C. Vaillant. Three B&W photo sections. Condition: Gently pre-read 1953 Doubleday hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. DJ shows wear. Boards are decorated and are clean, clear and bright. Content: While much work has been one on the history of the Aztecs since this book was first published in 1941, this is still an important work with interesting theories that is well worth the read. Dr. Vaillant was Associate Curator of Mexican Archaeology at the American Museum of Natural History. One of the interesting notes is that the while the true origin of the Aztecs is still unknown, their language is similar to that of the Native Americans of Oregon and Montana. This book formed the basis for much of the early scholarship on the Aztecs. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 9.50 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

THE AZTECS: PEOPLE OF THE SUN (Civilization of the American Indian series)
by Alfonso Caso. B&W and color illustrations by Miguel Covarrubias (some look as if they came straight from a Codex). Translated by Lowell Dunham. Condition: UNREAD c. 1988-90 Univ. of Oklahoma Press Trade Paperback. Content: Reviewer: "If you're into pre-Columbian and Mexican history this is an excellent choice to add to your collection. Written by Alfonso Caso, who directed the findings at Monte Alban and was the former director of archeology in the National Museum of Mexico, the man knows his history. The Aztecs and all their rituals , including the Gods and calendar are explained in easy to read language. The text is not overburdensome with highly specialiazed jargon but is eloquent and to the point. This book is an easy read. The illustrations are worth the price of the book alone. They are by Miguel Covarrubias, one of Mexico's finest illustrators at the time, and he does a fantastic job depicting the colorful Aztec world. An essential book for anyone intersted in exploring the Aztecs." Also said about the illustrations: 'The colorful, barbaric Covarrubias illustrations enliven and illuminate the scholarly text." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE BROKEN SPEARS: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico (Expanded & Updated Edition)
edited and introduction by Miguel Leon-Portilla. Foreword by J. Jorge Klor de Alva. B&W Codex drawings illustrate. Condition: UNREAD 1999 Beacon Press Trade Paperback, expanded & updated edition, second printing. Light shelf wear hinge crease. Content: Reviewer: "This book describes the conflict between the Aztecs and Spaniards superbly! This book is somewhat unique among histories because it takes the point of view of the vanquished rather than the victors. It starts from before the Spaniards arrive with eerie premonitions of eminent doom to the fall of Tenochtitlan and the suffering associated with that, then proceeds to give a short account of the plight of the native Nahuas after the conquest. Leon-Portilla uses a vast array of native sources from the Florentine Codex to the Cantares Mexicanos (which consists of Native American songs about the conquest), and combines them to create a lively and pleasant read, and its fairly short length add to its overall unburdensome style. In fact for me this book was harder not to read than to read. The tale is full of lively adventure, fascinting omens and cultural tidbits (such as the Aztec dedication to human sacrifice and their belief that the Spaniards were gods), violence, and sorrow. This book is a must for the Aztec fan, the conquistador fan, or anyone who likes an engaging story that just happens to be history. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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COMANCHE MIDNIGHT
essays by Stephen Harrigan (Texas Monthly. Condition: NEW 1995 Univ. of Texas Press Trade Paperback, first edition, no printing given. Light ede wear to front cover fore edge. Content: "The essays in Comanche Midnight address my old preoccupations with worlds that have vanished, communication that is sealed off, perceptions that are out of reach. There is an air of mystery about them . . . They are a record not just of certain events and people and places, but of the mind that witnessed them, and that is still trying to grasp what it beheld." The title and opening essay of Texan Harrigan's (A Natural State) latest collection concerns the United States' continued affronts of the Comanche tribe. These affronts, Harrigan writes, have left a proud people torn between fading traditions and increasing social responsibilities. Although Harrigan does recall some of the Comanche history, he is careful not to let the past overwhelm the immediacy of the problems faced by contemporary Comanches. Like such writers as Barry Lopez and Peter Matthiessen, Harrigan sticks to the facts, whatever poetry comes from his thorough reporting rather than from sparkling prose. ``The Bay'' details the prolonged ecological collapse of Galveston Bay, while ``The Soul of Treaty Oak'' recreates the chaos and comedy following the poisoning of Austin's celebrated centuries-old tree. In ``The Temple of Destiny,'' Harrigan examines the defeat of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, and Cortes's murderous response to Aztec ritualized human sacrifice. Harrigan's compassion for these defeated subjects is offset throughout by an overwhelming sense of wanting to piece together another portion of the historical puzzle. Writing in a state known for its enormity, Harrigan is on the side of the small men who often die victims of a history that too quickly forgets. [1 copy available]
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THE CONQUEST OF AMERICA: The Question of the Other
by Tzetan Todorov. Translated from the French by Richard Howard. B&W illustrations. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1998 HarperPerennial Trade Paperback, 5th printing. Tiny edge wear with light to moderate tanning to page edges. Content: A fascinating study of cultural confrontation in the New World, with implications far beyond sixteenth-century America, this book has become a classic in its field. It offers an original interpretation of the discovery of America by Columbus and of the subsequent conquest, colonization, and destruction of Mexico and the Caribbean by the Spaniards at the beginning of the modern era. Using sixteenth-century sources, the distinguished French writer and critic examines the beliefs and behavior of both the Spanish conquistadors and the Aztecs, adversaries in a clash of cultures that resulted in the near extermination of Mesoamerica's Indian population. Absorbing, intelligent, and responsible in its call for a much-needed dialogue between different cultures, this evokes a drama that set the pattern for much of the history of Western colonialism. [1 copy available]
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THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO: A Modern Rendering of William H. Prescott's History
by Beatrice Berler. Preface by Burr Brundage. B&W illustrations from Codex and Spanish drawings. Condition: NEW Corona Publishing (SAT) Trade Paperback, 4th printing. Content: If the 7-million page (well, ok, almost) original Prescott history is too much for you or you have time constraints, this is the book for you. Prescott's account of the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniard Cortes, first published in 1843, is classic. Despite the passage of time, it remains lively and fresh. Only the account by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who accompanied Cortes, ranks close. Many editions of Prescott have appeared; one of the most recent abridgements of Prescott's long account is C. Harvey Gardner's text but even this totals 406 pages. Berler has done us a service by making a sharply abridged Prescott available in readable form. Prescott's work sheds light on what happens when peoples meet, and he was the first major historian to address that question. Berler makes accessible a past master. [1 copy available]
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THE CONQUEST OF NEW SPAIN
by Bernal Diaz. Translated by J. M. Cohen. B&W maps. Condition: Good+, 1981 Penguin Books paperback, reprint. This book has been used - edgewear with a pale crease bottom front cover. Interior clean with light tanning to page edges. Content: The defeat of the Aztecs by Hernan Cortes and his small band of adventurers is one of the most startlint military feats in history. Fifty years after the event Bernal Diaz (c. 1498 - c. 1580), who served under Cortes, wrote this magnificent account of the march from teh coast, Montezuma's death, the massacre of the Spaniards, and the eventual capture of the capital of Mexico. W. H. Prescott drew freely on this book for his History of the Conquest of Mexico. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

DAILY LIFE OF THE AZTECS On the Eve of the Spanish Conquest
by Jacques Soustelle. Translated from the French by Patrick O'Brien. B&W photo section. Condition: PLEASE READ. UNREAD 1962 Macmillan hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), reissue. This is an unread EX-LIBRARY book with all markings. Content: Originally published in France in 1955. Tireless speech-makers and lovers of verse, the ancient Aztecs used a pictographic system to keep records of their history, geography, and rituals. Many of these accounts were destroyed after the Spanish conquest; but fortunately, a few survived, including records kept by the invaders. This book by an international authority on Mexican archeology and sociology presents a vivid account of that profoundly religious Aztec warrior society--from its days as a primitive people, to the early sixteenth century when a powerful government ruled with great organizational ability and restless energy. A highly readable text, accompanied by rare illustrations, describes public buildings and market places, the problems of life in a great city-state, the ruling classes and living standards, religious beliefs, the everyday lives of people--from birth to death, and much more. Amazing in scope and detail, this volume will be invaluable to students of Mexican history and of interest to anyone fascinated by this ancient civilization. Soustelle was born in Montpellier in 1912 and attained fame both as a scholar and a politician. He made an exhaustive study of the Aztec language, society, art and architecture, rituals and beliefs. He died in 1990. Excellent! Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE FAIR GOD Or the Last of the 'Tzins: A Tale of teh Conquest of Mexico
by General Lew Wallace (Ben-Hur. B&W full-page plates by Eric Pape. Condition: This is a used book. I will get the details of this shortly - seem to have misplaced the condition description. DUH! Content: This manuscript was found (said Wallace in his Introduction, which was fiction of a cloth with the novel to follow) among a heap of old dispatches from the Viceroy Mendoza to the Emperor. It must have been to give him a completer idea of the Aztecan people and their civilization, or to lighten the burdens of royalty by an amusement to which, it is known, Charles V. was not averse. Besides, Mendoza, in his difficulty with the Marquess of the Valley (Cortes), failed not to avail himself of every means likely to propitiate his cause with the court, and especially with the Royal Council of the Indies. It is not altogether improbable, therefore, that the manuscript was forwarded for the entertainment of the members of the Council and the lordly personages of the Court. . . . everything relative to the New World, and particularly the dazzling conquest of Mexico. [Regardless of the publisher's note here, this IS a work of fiction.] Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE FLAME OF PEACE: A Tale of the Aztecs
story and color illustrations by Deborah Nourse Lattimore. Condition: UNREAD 1991 Harper Trophy soft cover, no printing given. Beautiful, historically accurate & detailed color illustrations - could have come right out of a Codex. Content: Two Flint knows no better place on earth than his beautiful Aztec city. But one day a hostile army appears outside the city walls. When Two Flint's father goes to talk peace with the enemy, he never returns. Only when the magic flame from Lord Morning Star's sacred light burns in the great Aztec temple can men live as brothers. But the journey to the great god's home is fraught with terrors. And the long road beyond the great city walls is ruled by nine evil demons of darkness. Two Flint knows he must be brave. But can he succeed where so many others have failed? [While the message of peace is an appropriate one for youngsters - recommended for ages 5 to 8 - I'm not convinced it is appropriate to the Aztec culture. However, it is a nice story and the illustrations will easily carry the text.] Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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GODS AND MYTHS OF THE AZTECS: The History and Development of Mexican Culture
by Norman Bancroft Hunt. Beautiful color photos illustrate. Condition: Gently pre-read 1997 Smithmark over-sized hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Light edge wear to top DJ spine edge. Content: This book introduces the traditions, beliefs, and attitudes that governed the Aztec world-view and which were to appear so strange to the Spanish invaders of the New World. To understand this, we need to consider how the Aztec world was created and the beliefs that underlie Aztec thinking, the roots of which can be traced back in the origin myth of another cultue: that of the Maya. Fascinating. Young Adult to Adult. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE GREAT TEMPLE OF THE AZTECS: Treasures of Tenochtitlan
(New Aspects of Antiquity series)
by Eduardo Matos Moctezuma. Translated from the Spanish by Doris Heyden. B&W photos and drawings plus wonderful color photos. Condition: UNREAD 1988 Thames & Hudson soft cover edition, no printing given. Content: The Aztecs have fascinated and horrified Westerners for centuries. After Cortes extraordinary conquest of the New World's most powerful civilization in 1521, the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, was leveled and its Great Temple demolished. Soon even the location of the old cult center was lost--until 1978, when tunneling for Mexico City's subway system unearthed clues that led to the rediscovery of the Great Temple an the most spectacular excavation ever conducted in Mexico. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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AN ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY OF THE GODS AND SYMBOLS OF ANCIENT MEXICO AND THE MAYA
by Mary Miller and Karl Taube. B&W drawings, Codex entries, mpas & photos illustrate. Condition: NEW 1997 Thames & Hudson Trade Paperback, no printing given. Content: The myths and beliefs of the great pre-Columbian civilizations of Mesoamerica have baffled and fascinated outsiders ever since the Spanish Conquest. Yet, until now, no single-volume introduction has existed to act as a guide to this labyrinthine symbolic world. The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya is the first-ever English-language dictionary of Mesoamerican mythology and religion. Nearly 300 entries, from accession to yoke, describe the main gods and symbols of the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Maya, Teotihuacanos, Mixtecs, Toltecs, and Aztecs. Topics range from jaguar and jester gods to reptile eye and rubber, from creation accounts and sacred places to ritual practices such as bloodletting, confession, dance, and pilgrimage. In addition, two introductory essays provide succinct accounts of Mesoamerican history and religion, while a substantial bibliographical survey directs the reader to original sources and recent discussions. Dictionary entries are illustrated with photographs and specially commissioned line drawings. Miller and Taube draw on their research in the fast-changing field of Maya studies, and on the latest Mexican discoveries, to produce an authoritative work that will serve as a standard reference for students, scholars, and travelers. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE KING DANCED IN THE MARKETPLACE
by Frances Gillmor. B&W drawings from the Codex. Fold-out genealogy chart plus a fold-our map of the Aztec Empire. Really neat! Condition: UNREAD, BUT NOT PERFECT, 1977 Univ. of Utah Press Trade Paperback, assumed first printing. Problem: foxing to top edges and fore edges. Interior clean & tight. Content: REVIEW: A Doctoral Thesis written with an eye to becoming a book. The author's research into the ascension to the "Great Speaker" by Moctezuma I is the focal point of the story. The book is written like a historical novel and well noted chapter by chapter. Of particular interest is the author's attention to the details surrounding the formation of the triple alliance and the great war against the ruling Tepanac realm. Relationships between the leading parties of the day are presented with a liberal dose of poetic license. This is a book where the author has researched an area and written a supposition of what probably happened and what people probably said to each other. Interesting reading from a well researched project. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE LOST HISTORY OF AZTEC & MAYA: The history, legend, myth and culture of the ancient native peoples of Mexico and Central America
by Charles Phillips. Consultant: Dr. David M. Jones. Beautiful color photos of artifacts, maps, and locations. Condition: NEW 2007 Hermes huge soft cover, third printing. Content: This is a highly readable, authoritative history of Mesoamerica and its many peoples, from the Olmecs and Maya to the Toltecs and Aztecs. Fully illustrated throughout with more than 500 full-color photos, artworks and maps of places, objects and original documents. packed with fascinating insights into history and mythology providing useful reference material for study at home and college. Olmec, Maya, Chichimec, Huastec, Zapotec, Toltec, Mixtec, Totonac, and Aztec. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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LOST TEMPLE OF THE AZTECS (I Was There series)
by Shelley Tanaka. Excellent, detailed, and historically accurate color illustrations by Greg Ruhl. Condition: NEW 1998 Hyperion/Madison soft cover, third printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: Using the discovery of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan under the streets of Mexico City in 1978 as a starting point, Tanaka introduces readers to the world of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish invasion. From this beginning, the readable text follows the fate of this capital city and its inhabitants until its fall and destruction in 1521?the death knell of an empire. Lavishly illustrated with full-color photos, period artwork, and dramatic full-page paintings, the book is handsome and eye-catching. It includes fictional dialogue and suppositions regarding emotional states, but purists may be comforted by the vetting of Professor Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, both a descendant of an Aztec ruler and the archaeologist in charge of the initial excavation of the Great Temple. Another comforting note indicates that, "The text...is largely based on Aztec accounts...." Sadly, there is no index (or table of contents) to simplify swift information retrieval. Still, this is a colorful, lively edition. [1 copy available]
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MESOAMERICAN MYTH: A Treasury of Central American Legends, Art, and History
by Anita Ganeri. Beautiful color photos, drawings, and Codex repros. Condition: NEW 2007 Chartwell Books (UK) soft cover, first printing. Content: The Aztec and Mayan civilizations both had a rich collection of myths that sought to explain and define the natural world and their own customs and beliefs. Discover the role of religion in these incredibly sophisticated cultures, including the significance of the "fifth sun," and visit the extraordinary cities of Tenochtitlan and Palenque. Although stated for grades 8-12, anyone interested in Mesoamerican and Ancient American mythology will love this book! [1 copy available]
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MOCTEZUMA AND THE AZTECS (British Museum)
by Elisenda Vila Llonch. 61 beautiful color photos of artifacts, jewelry, everyday items, and Codex repros. Condition: NEW 2009 British Museum hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: Under Moctezuma the mighty Aztec empire reached the height of its power; under Moctezuma, the Aztec empire met its ultimate downfall. The Aztecs ruled from the island metropolis of Tenochtitlan which, by the fifteenth century, stretched from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Ocean. Focusing on their last elected leader, Moctezuma II, this informative and beautifully illustrated little book explores the world of the Aztecs. It looks at their origins, the founding of their capital city Tenochtitlan, the structure of their society, their religious beliefs and ceremonies, their military prowess, their art and architecture, and their network of long-distance trade and tribute. The dramatic death of Moctezuma at the hands of the Spanish is also recounted. "Moctezuma and the Aztecs" not only offers a concise portrait of this famous, semi-divine figure but offers a wonderful introduction to a remarkable, sophisticated civilization. Simply beautiful! [1 copy available]
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MY DAUGHTER, MY SON, THE EAGLE, THE DOVE: An Aztec Chant [INSCRIBED BY AUTHOR]
by Ana Castillo. Colorful, historically accurate, illustrations by S. Guevara. Condition: UNREAD 2000 Dutton hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. INSCRIBED by Author (just "To:") on title page. Content: In a work best suited for adults, Castillo reworks ancient Nahuatl chants into modern form. The poetic text celebrates rites of passage in a young person's life, from birth through childhood and young adulthood, to marriage and parenthood. Two sections, one for a daughter and one for a son, share lessons, chiefly of self-respect and respect for other living things. "When you speak, speak/not too loud/and not soft/but with honest words/always." Guevara's beautiful earth-toned paintings on amate (Mexican bark) combine colorful depictions of day-to-day life with traditional Aztec glyphs, which also tell the unique stories of the girl and boy who are the subjects of the text. It is only through the pictures that readers learn that the girl grows up to be a pediatrician, the boy, an artist. The arrangement of text, jewel-toned illustrations, precise borders, and glyphs is visually arresting and emotionally affecting. Notes by both author and illustrator give valuable insight into the creation of the book and the melding of the ancient with the modern. A timeless work of art that expresses the hopes and dreams of parents of both eagles and doves. Grades 6 - up. . [1 copy available]
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MYTHOLOGY THE THE AZTECS AND MAYA: Myths & Legends of Ancient Mexico and Northrn Central America
by David M. Jones. Beautiful color photos and maps with a few B&W artifact photos. Condition: NEW 2003 Arness large soft cover, no printing given. Content: This is an authoritative and accessible guide to the myths and legens of the Aztecs and Maya and other Mesoamerican peoples and cultures. Moe than 200 A-to_Z entries describe the central beliefs of each ulture and their importance in the daily life of Mesoamerican peoples. 150+ color images. [1 copy available]
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ON THE TRAIL OF THE FEATHERED SERPENT: An Archaeologist Finds and Sails the Ancient Sea Route That Linked Incan and Aztec Civilizations
by Gene Savoy (Antisuyo). Loaded with B&W photos, maps, and drawings. End pages are decorated with the sea route Savoy followed. Condition: Gently pre-read 1974 Bobbs-Merrill hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Problems: Edgewear with chips to DJ edges plus tanning to DJ spine and a bit into the front panel. Some foxing and "spots" fore edges and top edges of book. Interior clean & tight - no tanning. Content: Peruvian myth tells of a wise man known as Viracocha who sailed awy to the north after a period of persecution. And Mexican legend is filled with tales of Quetzalcoatl, a godlike fiture who appeared by sea from the south, who established law among the Aztecs, and whose fame grew as a teacher of all things. In Mexico and Yucatan, in the Andean caves, and in the jungles of Peru, extraordinary likenesses have been noted among stone carvings relating to these legends and in the ornamental work found among the runis of the ancients. Others have dismissed these similarities as coincidence. SAvoy felt sure that hundreds of years before the Spanish Conquest - and much earlier than scientists had thought it possible - cultural interchange had taken place between South and Central America. Guided by the legends, he theorized a sea link. To prove his assumption, he set out to duplicate the mythological voyage of Viracocha/Quetzalcoatl from Peru to Mexico.This tale of daring and exciting sea expedition in a totora reed vessel rivals the adventures of Kon-Tiiki. Wonderful read! Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE RABBIT ON THE FACE OF THE MOON: Mythology in the Mesoamerican Tradition
by Alfredo Lopez Austin. Translated by Bernard Ortiz de Montellano & Theoma Ortiz de Montellano. B&W decorations and drawings. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1996 Univ. Utah Press Trade Paperback, no printing given. Problem: Tiny edge wear AND this was my book I never got around to reading (shame on me! I know) and for some reason I dogearred one page - so. . . Content: Eighteen essays provide an accessible, entertaining look into a system of millennia-old legends and beliefs. Mythology is one of the great creations of humankind. It forms the core of sacred books and reflects the deepest preoccupations of human beings, their most intimate secrets, their glories, and their infamies. In 1990, Alfredo López Austin, one of the foremost scholars of ancient Mesoamerican thought, began a series of essays about mythology in the Mesoamerican tradition, published in México Indígena. Although his articles were written for general readers, they were also intended to engage specialists. They span a divers subject matter: myths and names, eclipses, stars, left and right, Méxican origins, Aztec incantations, animals, and the incorporation of Christian elements into the living mythologies of Mexico. The title essay relates the Mesoamerican myth explaining why there is a rabbit o the moon’s face to a Buddhist image and suggests the importance of the profound mythical concepts presented by each image. The eighteen essays in this volume are unified by their basis in Mesoamerican tradition and provide an accessible, entertaining look into a system of millennia-old legends and beliefs. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE SAD NIGHT; The Story of an Aztec Victory and a Spanish Loss
story & art Sally Schofer Mathews. Wonderful, vivid color illustrations. Historically accurate. Condition: NEW 1993 Clarion hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Bookplate. Content: Expertly weaving dialogue into her absorbing account, Mathews chronicles the fateful encounter that paved the way for the Spaniards' conquest of Mexico more than 400 years ago. As she sets the stage, Mathews explains how the Aztecs, under Moctezuma, vanquished other tribes to establish an expansive empire based on the island of Tenochtitlan, now Mexico City. When Spanish soldiers entered the city in 1519, Moctezuma mistook their leader, Hernan Cortes, for a god and offered him gold and jewels. The arrival of a second fleet of Spanish ships led to the battle that took place on "The Sad Night"; Moctezuma was killed and the Spaniards, attempting to escape with a cache of gold, were chased and defeated by the Aztecs. Mathews neatly distills the intricate details of this skirmish, observing that there were many casualties on both sides, and that the victors "did not know that this was the last battle they would win." Inspired by the few Aztec codices that survived the Spanish conquest, Mathews's dynamic ink and electric-hued watercolor art plays a strong role in the telling of this intriguing story. Endnotes succinctly encapsulate the rise and fall of the Aztec empire, and a brief discussion of Aztec symbols and calendars includes striking examples. Ages 6-9. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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A SCATTERING OF JADES: Stories, Poems, and Prayers of the Aztecs
edited by Dr. R. J. Knab. Translated by Thelma D. Sullivan. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1994 Touchstone Trade Paperback, first printing. Light edge wear with moderate tanning to page edges. Interior clean & tight. Content: "A scattering of Jades" was an Aztec metaphor for elegant speech. Long before Europeans came to America, the Aztecs were flourishing, creating a unique culture based on myth and a love of language. To the Aztecs, an elegant turn of phrase was like a precious stone. This work is an anthology of the best of Aztec literature, including myths and narratives, poems and proverbs. These selections depict the reality of this ancient people: their everyday life, and their truly unique view of the world. This book includes Aztec myths, prayers, proverbs and poems, many translated from the original Nahuatl. [1 copy available]
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SPIRIT CHILD: A Story of the Nativity
translated from the Aztec by John Bierhorst. Beautiful, soft pastel color illustrations by Barbara Cooney. Condition: NEW 1984 SeaStar Books hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: This acclaimed picture book brings to life a stirring message of hope and salvation. Beneath the light of a brilliant star in Bethlehem, a "spirit child" is born to rescue the world from evil. He is Jesus, "savior of the people," and his story has not been told in these words for over four hundred years. This Native American nativity story from the Aztec tradition was rediscovered by noted scholar John Bierhorst and it is filled with vivid language and some of the most striking imagery of Caldecott Medalist Barbara Cooney's distinguished career. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
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STOLEN CONTINENTS: Conquest and Resistance In The Americas
by Ronald Wright. B&W photo section. Condition: NEW 2000 Phoenix (UK) large Trade Paperback 424 pages), no printing given. Content: Clear and concise history detailing the experiences of Native Americans on both continents from 1492 to 1990, from travel-writer and Mayan specialist Wright. Rather than attempt a comprehensive rendering of the centuries of genocide practiced by those who came in the wake of Columbus, Wright sensibly opts to present a few of the "highlights." The savagery practiced against five major cultures - the Maya, Inca, Aztec, Cherokee, and Iroquois - and their responses appear in three stages, encompassing five hundred years: the initial periods of contact in each case; the hard and bloody struggles of these peoples once the battle was joined; and the modern phase, in which resistance continues along with the resolve to endure. Using contemporary native accounts wherever possible, in the belief that the white version has been heard often enough, Wright recounts Montezuma's failed strategy to welcome Cortes as an equal, which led to his palace becoming his prison; the Cherokee Nation's willingness two centuries later to emulate Western civilization, which only brought forced removal to Oklahoma and death along the Trail of Tears; and other base betrayals. Even with their societies largely destroyed, however, retention of an indigenous identity for the Incan descendants in Peru and their Mayan counterparts in Guatemala, and events such as last year's tense standoff between defiant Iroquois and thousands of Canadian troops can be seen, Wright says, as evidence that a determined native resistance continues. Familiar facts but a distinctive viewpoint: an intensely partisan chronicle of centuries of dishonor, written in a fluid, vivid style. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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TURQUOISE MOSAICS FROM MEXICO
by Colin McEwan, Andrew Middleton, CAroline Cartwright, and Rebecca Stacey. Beautiful color photos illustrate. Condition: NEW 2006 Duke Univ. soft cover, no printing given. Content: The nine turquoise mosaics from Mexico are some the most striking pieces in the collections of the British Museum. Among the few surviving such artifacts, these exquisite objects include two masks, a shield, a knife, a helmet, a double-headed serpent, a mosaic on a human skull, a jaguar, and an animal head. They all originate from the Mixtec and Aztec civilizations first encountered by Europeans during the Spanish conquest in the early sixteenth century. The mosaics have long excited admiration for their masterful blend of technical skill and artistry and fascination regarding their association with ritual and ceremony. Only recently though, have scientific investigations undertaken by the British Museum dramatically advanced knowledge of the mosaics by characterizing, for the first time, the variety of natural materials that were used to create them. Illustrated with more than 160 color images, this book describes the recent scientific findings about the mosaics in detail, revealing them to be rich repositories of information about ancient Mexico. The materials used to construct the mosaics demonstrate their makers’ deep knowledge of the natural world and its resources. The effort that would have been involved in procuring the materials testifies to the mosaics’ value and significance in a society imbued with myths and religious beliefs. The British Museum’s analyses have provided evidence of the way that the materials were prepared and assembled, the tools used, and the choices that were made by artisans. In addition, by drawing on historical accounts including early codices, as well as recent archaeological discoveries, specialists have learned more about the place of the mosaics in ancient Mexican culture. Filled with information about the religion, art, and natural and cultural history as well as the extraordinary ability of modern science to enable detailed insight into past eras, This book offers an overview of the production, utilization, and eventual fate of these beautiful and mysterious objects. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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TWO EARTHS, TWO HEAVENS: An Essay Contrasting the Aztecs and the Incas
by Burr Cartwright Brundage. Machu Picchu cover art. Condition: UNREAD 1975 UNM Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing gien. DJ shows light edge wear top edge. Content: Brundage, a historian who has written extensively about both the Incas and the Aztecs, here compares their origins, creation myths, religions and ways of life and warfare. "The Incas," he writes, "trusting in their destiny as a master race, planned ahead whereas the Aztecs, pessimistic and acutely aware of irresponsibility as a main characteristic of the gods, lived from day to day dutifully performing the rites of war." He portrays the Inca Empire as "synonymous with order," the Aztec Empire as a "byproduct of warfare." His innovative explanation of the defeat of the two nations by the Spanish is based on his belief that by the sixteenth century both empires had already passed their apex. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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TWO EARTHS, TWO HEAVENS: An Essay Contrasting the Aztecs and the Incas
by Burr Cartwright Brundage. Machu Picchu cover art. Condition: Gently pre-read 1975 UNM Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), stated first edition. DJ is the problem: edge wear with rubbings allong edges and spine and front & back panels. Interior clean. Content: Brundage, a historian who has written extensively about both the Incas and the Aztecs, here compares their origins, creation myths, religions and ways of life and warfare. "The Incas," he writes, "trusting in their destiny as a master race, planned ahead whereas the Aztecs, pessimistic and acutely aware of irresponsibility as a main characteristic of the gods, lived from day to day dutifully performing the rites of war." He portrays the Inca Empire as "synonymous with order," the Aztec Empire as a "byproduct of warfare." His innovative explanation of the defeat of the two nations by the Spanish is based on his belief that by the sixteenth century both empires had already passed their apex. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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WARRIORS, GODS AND SPIRITS FROM CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY
by Douglas Gifford. Wonderfully clever and colorful illustrations by John Sibbick. Wrap-around cover art is stunning. Condition: NEW 1985 Peter Lowe (UK) large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: The civilizations of Central and South America have left a wealth of fascinating myths and legends. 53 stories from the ancient empires and from today's rainforest tribes. Contents: Myths from the New World; Gods of the Aztecs; Mayas and their Myths; Incas, Children of the Sun; Myths of the High Andes; Mysteries of the Valleys; Spirits of the Forest; Tales from the Amazon; Tales of Mischief and Magic; People of the Great Rivers; Far South; Tales of Southern Plains; Symbols in the Central and South American Myths; and Index. All ages. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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XICOTENCATL: An anonymous historical novel about the events leading up to the conquest of the Aztec empire
translated by Guillermo I. Castillo-Feliu. Condition: NEW 1999 Univ. of Texas Press Trade Paperback, first printing. Remainder mark bottom edges. Content: This translation of Xicotencatl makes available to English-speaking readers a key text in the nineteenth-century history of Spanish American literature. As Spain's New World colonies fought for their independence in the early nineteenth century, an anonymous author looked back on the earlier struggle of native Americans against the Spanish conquistadores and penned this novel, Xicoténcatl. Writing from a decidedly anti-Spanish perspective, the author describes the historical events that led to the march on Tenochtitlán and eventual conquest of the Aztec empire in 1519 by Hernán Cortés and his Indian allies, the Tlaxcalans. Xicoténcatl stands out as a beautiful exposition of an idealized New World about to undergo the tremendous changes wrought by the Spanish Conquest. It was published in Philadelphia in 1826. In his introduction to this first English translation, Guillermo I. Castillo-Feliú discusses why the novel was published outside Latin America, its probable author, and his attitudes toward his Spanish and Indian characters, his debt to Spanish literature and culture, and the parallels that he draws between past and present struggles against Spanish domination in the Americas. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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