The History of the Aztecs & Maya - by Charles Phillips (Hardcover)

The magnificent architectural and cultural achievements of a succession of peoples in Mexico and Central America cover almost three thousand years. These achievements range from the temple-pyramids and colossal stone carvings of the Olmecs to the awe-inspiring cities, vast trading networks and complex religious societies of the Aztecs and Maya. Archaeological finds and examination of surviving documents provide intriguing insights into astronomy, the development of calendars, mathematics, writing and the arts. They reveal a severe commitment to war and a savage religious devotion to gods who demanded the blood of human sacrifice.

The peoples of Mesoamerica entered into an intense relationship with the natural world and with the gods and goddesses who lived in natural forms. A survey of the 'mythologized' narratives covers tales of creation, earth and sky, legends of the gods, goddesses and heroes, and stories of fertility, harvest and the afterlife. Myth-like accounts and historical fact were blended in contemporary narratives of Mesoamerican history and even in the story of their defeat by the Spanish conquistadors.