FIFTH SUN: A New History of the Aztecs
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For the first time, in Fifth Sun, the history of the Aztecs is offered in all its complexity based solely on the texts written by the indigenous people themselves. Camilla Townsend presents an accessible and humanized depiction of these native Mexicans, rather than seeing them as the exotic, bloody figures of European stereotypes. The conquest, in this work, is neither an apocalyptic moment, nor an origin story launching Mexicans into existence. The Mexica people had a history of their own long before the Europeans arrived and did not simply capitulate to Spanish culture and colonization. Instead, they realigned their political allegiances, accommodated new obligations, adopted new technologies, and endured.
This engaging revisionist history of the Aztecs, told through their own words, explores the experience of a once-powerful people facing the trauma of conquest and finding ways to survive, offering an empathetic interpretation for experts and non-specialists alike.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (1 July 2021) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 336 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0197577660 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0197577660 |
| Dimensions | 14 x 2.13 x 21 cm |
by M. Butcher
This is a wonderful and enthralling account of the subjugation of the Aztecs by the Spanish. It draws on the hitherto ignored sources of accounts written by the conquered -drawing out with nuance their intelligence and humanity. The author addresses issues of legitimacy as understood at the time and the interplay between high politics involving the King of Spain and the accommodations with the indigenous peoples required to assure a measure of order. If there is to be a second edition, as there surely must be, I hope maps are added showing both the territories of the indigenous peoples and the languages they spoke, perhaps alongside a both a political map of modern Central America including cities and towns and a geographical map showing rivers and topography.
by Robert Gschiel
This is a great read, almost unable to put it down if you are into this subject. It took me a about ten days to finish is, given other commitments however, there is so much information in that book. The way it is written shows that different perspectives are very important and that not everything is how it seems, only because this is how it was told.
Definitely five (5) starts!
by C. BROWN
This is a fascinating account of the Mexica civilisation destroyed by the Conquistadors, based on Mexica stories told immediately after the conquest. It explains the nature of the civilisation and contextualises aspects such as human sacrifice (without apologising for this regrettable feature of the civilisation). At times one could have wished for a more conventional narrative but this is still a first-rate study.
by Gabriel Stein
A fascinating book about the history of a people who is used misrepresented in general history. We are told that there were no written works from Aztec times; or that the Aztecs believed their conquerors to be gods. Both thoughts false. This is a good antidote to such rubbish.
by markr
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.
by Arynth
Townsend goes to great lengths to capture not only the history of important persons but detailing the impacts on the lives of ordinary people. She’s does this with brief interludes lacking in many histories – drawing together evidence and stating a likely feeling or event while allowing room for doubt. Using a little imagination.
She’s carefully draws in indigenous accounts and languages and wraps it all in a framing of indigenous record-keeping. Throughout she conveys her sadness at what we don’t or can’t know as well as the human tragedies we do know about, packing a lot of information into a space other authors would pad into 600-800 pages.
As a final note – she’s quite clearly careful to emphasise the role of and impact on women in this history. Where they have voices and where they’ve been silenced. How they were used or managed to make lives for themselves. The burdens they had to bear when demands were made on their societies
by Amazon Customer
Quite an enjoyable read, but most of the book concerns postconquest political history.
It would have been really interesting to see more detail on how society functioned, religion and economics.
by TeacherHist
This book is written in a very engaging style and really brings the culture of the Aztecs to life in a brilliant way. On occasions I felt it drifted a bit too far from the facts and (understandably perhaps) the author had to use a little too much imagination and speculation to fill the gaps in the social history record. This is not personally to my taste but might make it even more attractive to other readers. Overall, very much recommended.