Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs (Ancient Peoples and Places)

The geographic setting -- Languages and peoples -- Periods -- Early hunters -- The Archaic period -- The Preclassic period: early villagers -- The Preclassic period: early civilizations -- The Classic period -- The Epiclassic period -- The Post-Classic period: the Toltec state -- The Post-Classic period: rival states -- The Aztecs in 1519 -- The Spanish Conquest -- New Spain and the colonial world -- The "ladinoization" of Mexico -- Visiting Mexico -- Chronological table -- Reigning monarchs of the Aztec state.;This volume has been revised throughout and expanded, with new images and accounts of the major discoveries of recent years. Updates begin with the earliest periods: one of the enduring puzzles surrounding Mexican prehistory, the origins of maize farming, has at last been solved. There are insights into the latest finds at the Olmec sites at Chiapas de Corzo and Zazacatla. The classic city of Teotihuacan continues to yield new discoveries, changing the way we look at this major site. The post-classic Huastec people are covered in greater detail. And the unearthing of burial deposits in the centre of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan has led to a fresh understanding of the history and symbolism of this hallowed area.

“Masterly. . . . The complexities of Mexico’s ancient cultures are perceptively presented and interpreted.” —Library Journal

Michael D. Coe’s Mexico has long been recognized as the most readable and authoritative introduction to the region’s ancient civilizations. This companion to his best-selling The Maya has now been revised by Professor Coe and Rex Koontz.

The seventh edition incorporates new findings in a number of disciplines. The solution to the long-standing puzzle of the origin of maize-farming has at last been solved, and spectacular new discoveries shed light on Mexico’s earliest civilization, the Olmec culture. At the great city of Teotihuacan, recent investigations in the earliest monumental pyramid indicate the antiquity of certain sacrificial practices and the symbolism of the pyramid. Expanded information on the Huastec region of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico is included, while discoveries in the sacred precinct of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan have led to a refined understanding of the history and symbolism of this hallowed area.

"This authoritative volume has been revised throughout and expanded, with new images and accounts of the major discoveries of recent years. Updates begin with the earliest periods: one of the enduring puzzles surrounding Mexican prehistory, the origins of maize farming, has at last been solved. There are insights into the latest finds at the Olmec sites at Chiapas de Corzo and Zazacatla. The classic city of Teotihuacan continues to yield discoveries, changing the way we look at this major site. The Post-Classic Huastec people are covered in greater detail. And the unearthing of burial deposits in the center of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan has led to a new understanding of the history and symbolism of this hallowed area."--Page 4 de la couverture "This authoritative volume has been revised throughout and expanded, with new images and accounts of the major discoveries of recent years. Updates begin with the earliest periods: one of the enduring puzzles surrounding Mexican prehistory, the origins of maize farming, has at last been solved. There are insights into the latest finds at the Olmec sites at Chiapas de Corzo and Zazacatla. The classic city of Teotihuacan continues to yield discoveries, changing the way we look at this major site. The Post-Classic Huastec people are covered in greater detail. And the unearthing of burial deposits in the center of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan has led to a new understanding of the history and symbolism of this hallowed area."--Page 4 of cover This book, long recognized as the most readable and authoritative introduction to the region's pre-columbian civilizations, has now been completely revised for its seventh edition. Spectacular new discoveries have thrown more light on the Olmec culture, Mexicos earliest civilization. At the great city of Teotihuacan, recent investigations in the earliest monumental pyramid indicate the antiquity of certain sacrificial practices and the symbolism of the pyramid. The Huastec region of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico gets a much fuller account than in previous editions and further discoveries in the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan have allowed us to refine our understanding of the history and symbolism of its sacred precinct.