Abstract
THIS small but compendious volume is a companion to “The History of the Maya”, published by Mr. Thompson in collaboration with Dr. Gann two years ago. Together the two books form an excellent introduction to a knowledge of the history and civilisation of Central America up to and at the time of the Spanish conquest. The later book is perhaps a little more popular in tone, and the interest of its matter slightly less, if the reader is archaeologically inclined. Mr. Thompson describes the chief characteristics of Aztec culture-social and military organisation, arts and crafts, religion, calendar and feasts, and temples and tombs. For the last section he surveys briefly the chief results of archaeological exploration in Mexico up to the date of writing. For the other sections, he has made a full and judicious use of the writings of the chroniclers, especially in describing the most prominent feature in Aztec culture, at least as known to us, namely, their addiction to human sacrifice. Mr. Thompson rejects ‘diffusion’ though he admits that there may be something to be said for the spread of cultural influence from the Pacific.
Mexico before Cortez: an Account of the Daily Life, Religion and Ritual of the Aztecs and Kindred Peoples.
By J. Eric Thompson. Pp. x + 298 + 34 plates. (New York and London: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1933.) 10s. 6d. net.
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[Short Reviews]. Nature 132, 555 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/132555c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/132555c0