Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs

All Good

Muy interesante historia..

Sinds mijn jongensjaren was ik gevaccineerd door de Midden-Amerikaanse culturen. Het fascineerde me hoe steden als Tenochtitlán floreerden, hoe rituelen, kunst en politiek met elkaar verweven waren, en hoe de verhalen van krijgers en priesters een diep inzicht gaven in hun wereldbeeld. Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs heeft deze fascinatie nieuw leven ingeblazen. Davíd Carrasco slaagt erin een meeslepend en toegankelijk overzicht te geven van de Azteekse beschaving, van hun oorsprong tot hun tragische val. Wat dit boek bijzonder maakt, is de combinatie van archeologische vondsten, codices en mondelinge tradities, waardoor de Azteken niet langer abstracte figuren in een geschiedenisboek zijn, maar levende mensen met dromen, angsten en strategische briljantheid.

This book looks at the history of the Aztecs, the Mexica, as they called themselves, before, during and after the Spanish invasion. Based on histories deliberately written by indigenous people who lived shortly after the events, to ensure a record for future generations, this book gives the perspective and understanding of the Mexica about what was happening to them. These works were written to capture and preserve the oral histories and songs which had provided the original communities with their historical culture and identity. They have formed the basis for the author’s research and this fascinating book. It is clear that the Aztecs themselves had built their own own hegemony on violence and conquest and that this history eventually provided the Spanish invaders with the indigenous allies without whom they could not have hoped to prevail. This book also makes clear that some of legends which arose from the writings of the conquistadors are simply untrue - the Mexica did not believe that the Spanish were gods, and Mocezuma did not give his empire away willingly. This book brings the 15th and 16th century Mexica to life - their loves, fears, courage and defeats. It deals with their beliefs, with human sacrifice, and with the atrocities perpetrated by the conquistadors, and the devastating impact of diseases against which the Mexica had no immunity. All of this makes for a fascinating read. The book is written in an engaging style for the general reader, and with a vast store of notes and references for academic purposes and further reading. Highly recommended if you have an interest in Latin America or in history more generally.

Brilliant construction of hidden and tragic history.