Mesoamerica for dummies
February 23, 2020 5:45 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for an accessible and fairly recently written history of Mesoamerica, in English. Any suggestions?
I'm visiting Mexico and after stops at a number of museums and archeological sites I'm very interested to get an up to date overview of what is known about the pre colonial history of this region. I can't read in Spanish unfortunately. Thanks for any suggestions
I'm visiting Mexico and after stops at a number of museums and archeological sites I'm very interested to get an up to date overview of what is known about the pre colonial history of this region. I can't read in Spanish unfortunately. Thanks for any suggestions
The Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. (FAMSI) has a good html page overview in John Pohl's Mesoamerica. FAMSI can help you get into the details: They have scans and discussion of many codex fascimiles, translations of Nezahualcoyotl's flower songs, translations of Mayan Poetry, and much more.
posted by Mister Cheese at 8:31 AM on February 23, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Mister Cheese at 8:31 AM on February 23, 2020 [2 favorites]
Was hoping for more answers here! FWIW I can second 1491. It's about a broader topic than just Meso-America but has plenty about it, and also it's just an excellent book.
I have on my to-read list The Aztecs: A Very Short Introduction. Can't say how it is, but 50/50 it is on my list because I saw someone talk about it on Metafilter.
I can highly recommend Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire if you want a detailed book on the archeology of the city state that's just an hour's drive from Mexico City. It's the catalog from a major new archaeology exhibit a few years ago. The text is fantastically detailed and readable and the objects photographed for it are beautiful. But it's focused on just the one city, albeit how it fit into the broader trade networks as well.
posted by Nelson at 7:37 AM on February 24, 2020
I have on my to-read list The Aztecs: A Very Short Introduction. Can't say how it is, but 50/50 it is on my list because I saw someone talk about it on Metafilter.
I can highly recommend Teotihuacan: City of Water, City of Fire if you want a detailed book on the archeology of the city state that's just an hour's drive from Mexico City. It's the catalog from a major new archaeology exhibit a few years ago. The text is fantastically detailed and readable and the objects photographed for it are beautiful. But it's focused on just the one city, albeit how it fit into the broader trade networks as well.
posted by Nelson at 7:37 AM on February 24, 2020
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If you like audiobooks/lecture series, there is Maya to Aztec: Ancient Meso-America Revealed. (this series may be available as an e-audiobook from your library).
posted by jb at 7:04 AM on February 23, 2020 [1 favorite]