“Michael Smith draws on ethnohistory and the most recent archaeological findings, including his own first-hand investigations, to update his comprehensive account of the Aztecs. The Aztecs provides a valuable overview for scholars and an accessible text for students.”
– Deborah L. Nichols, Dartmouth College
“Top archaeologist Michael Smith combines the latest archaeological research outside the imperial capital with insights from the ethnohistorical sources to present a well-balanced and dynamic view of Aztec society.”
– Elizabeth Boone, Tulane University
From the Inside Flap
The Aztecs 3rd Edition brings to life one of the best-known indigenous civilizations of the Americas in a vivid, comprehensive account of the ancient Aztecs. Immensely readable, Smith’s detailed descriptions of the daily life of the Aztec people provide an excellent and thorough grounding in the subject for students and general readers.
Based on the earliest discoveries and newest research in the field, The Aztecs, Third Edition has been revised and updated with the latest advances in Aztec archaeology and ethnohistory. Smith presents a new perspective on Aztec government and kings, additional descriptions of major archaeological sites, and expanded coverage of codices, religious beliefs, and the importance of areas distant from the capital city. New photographs and illustrations from the latest fieldwork rounds out the most informative and up-to-date treatment of Aztec civilization available.
From the Back Cover
The Aztecs 3rd Edition brings to life one of the best-known indigenous civilizations of the Americas in a vivid, comprehensive account of the ancient Aztecs. Immensely readable, Smith’s detailed descriptions of the daily life of the Aztec people provide an excellent and thorough grounding in the subject for students and general readers.
Based on the earliest discoveries and newest research in the field, The Aztecs, Third Edition has been revised and updated with the latest advances in Aztec archaeology and ethnohistory. Smith presents a new perspective on Aztec government and kings, additional descriptions of major archaeological sites, and expanded coverage of codices, religious beliefs, and the importance of areas distant from the capital city. New photographs and illustrations from the latest fieldwork rounds out the most informative and up-to-date treatment of Aztec civilization available.
About the Author
Michael E. Smith is Professor of Anthropology in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University. He has directed excavations at numerous Aztec sites and is co-editor (with Marilyn Masson) of The Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica: A Reader (Blackwell, 1999) and author of Aztec City-State Capitals (University Press of Florida, 2008).