The Cities of Ancient Mexico: Reconstructing a Lost World

By Jeremy A. Sabloff

Book Overview

Ancient Mexico was one of the great independent hearths of civilization. Out of varied landscapes grew some of the richest cultures of the early historic world--Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec. Standard histories tend to focus on the individual societies, but Jeremy Sabloff's popular study takes an original approach, emphasizing the unity of Mexican civilization. In a series of vignettes, Professor Sabloff describes what it would have been like to live during the heyday of Mexico's greatest cities. Through the eyes of astronomers and ballplayers, merchants and priests, we see the temples, palaces, and tombs of a civilization obsessed with ritual and death. But who built these cities and how do we know? Sabloff explains convincingly just why archaeologists believe in the indigenous origins of Mexican civilization. This updated and revised edition includes the latest findings at Monte Alban and other sites; incorporates discoveries at the Palenque tombs and breakthroughs in the decipherment of the Maya script; and draws on fresh readings of Aztec ethnohistorical sources. Throughout, the author reveals the new ideas and techniques revolutionizing archaeological fieldwork and shows how the latest evidence is being used to reconstruct a fuller picture of the past.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500279292
• ISBN13: 9780500279298
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A 1989 look at ancient Mexico.

History changes, so this is not the latest. However, it gives a good overview of what people thought ancient Mexico was back in the last century. We cover Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec. Do not look for color pictures, as they are all in black and white. You lose a dimension without the color. However, I have been to some of the cities and museums, so they are just placeholders for me. There are quite a few diagrams, 152 illustrations, that help put the writing in perspective. Keep in mind that this is from the perspective of the author, Jeremy A. Sabloff. The book is from 1989; however, he picked up most of his information in the 60s and 70s. The book is divided into three sections: Part One: What were the cities like? Part Two: What were their origins? Part Three: How do we know?