La civilización azteca. Origen, grandeza y decadencia

by George C. Vaillant, Samuel Vasconcelos (Translator), Margarita Montero (Translator)

Este libro apareció en inglés en 1941, y el FCE lanzó la primera edición en español en 1944. Casi desde un principio ha sido considerado un clásico de la bibliografía antropológica, como la obra más acabada sobre un tema tan singular: la vida y pasión del Imperio azteca, vistas en cuadro panorámico y desde los ángulos más objetivos que hacían posible las técnicas arqueológicas e históricas en los años treinta.
George C. Vaillant (1901-1945) (director, a la sazón, del Museo de la Universidad de Pennsylvania y curador honorario de arqueología mexicana en el Museo Norteamericano de Historia Natural, así como profesor honorario del Museo Nacional de Antropología de México) hizo un trabajo de reconstrucción que difícilmente hubiera llevado a feliz término, al menos tan airosamente, algún otro estudioso contemporáneo. Para ello, la preparación académica del doctor Vaillard, sus numerosas investigaciones de campo en el Valle de México y zonas circunvecinas, lo mismo que su incomparable imaginación creadora dentro de una exigente disciplina científica objetiva, le permitieron reconstruir desde el humilde origen de los mexicas que habían arribado, en el siglo XII, a la inmediación de los lagos del Centro, hasta el derrumbe de esa cultura que asombró a sus propios conquistadores de la Europa del siglo XVI. Vaillant no olvida, desde luego, las características culturales y el esplendor a que llegó el gran imperio que erigieron los aztecas sobre los pueblos que les habían precedido en la extensa cuenca mexicana.
Sin embargo, después de varios lustros transcurridos desde aquella presentación, los descubrimientos de la ciencia, las nuevas técnicas de trabajo (particularmente las de datación de estratos, artefactos y demás restos arqueológicos) y las aportaciones de otros especialistas hacían imprescindible una actualización de aquella edición. La tarea la emprendió la arqueóloga Suzannah B. Vaillant (hoy, de R. T. Hatt), que había tomado parte, directa y cercanamente, en los trabajos de su esposo a quien estuvo dedicado el libro. Las principales modificaciones afectan los primeros seis capítulos, en especial cuando se trata de esclarecer puntos oscuros sobre los olmecas y en donde se habla, separadamente, de Teotihuacán y de Tula, al aludir en primer término a los toltecas.
La re-creación resultante de la vida y cultura de la gente de Tenochtitlán, cuyos dominios militares, políticos y económicos habían llegado tan lejos, no tiene, en la literatura científica dedicada al gran público culto, paralelo con este libro único y fascinante.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Archaeology, Historical

319 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

George Clapp Vaillant was an American anthropologist.

He attended Harvard University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in 1922 and Ph.D. in 1927. His Ph.D. thesis established a chronology of Mayan ceramics. Later on, his work launched the historical sequence of cultures in pre-Columbian Mexico.

At the American Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., Vaillant was appointed the position of associate curator from 1930 to 1941. He became the honorary curator of Mexican Archaeology from 1941 to 1945; during this time, he also taught at several local universities.

He was the Senior Cultural Relations Officer for the United States Embassy in Lima, Peru from 1943 to 1944.

Vaillant conducted archaeological expeditions in the Southwest from 1921 to 1922 and 1922 to 1925, in Egypt from 1923 to 1924, and in Central America in 1926 and 1928 to 1936. He also organised archaeological programs throughout Latin America.

Aztecs of Mexico: Origins, Rise and Fall of the Aztec Nation was completed in 1941, and a second edition was published posthumously. His other book, Indian Arts in North America, was written in 1939. Vaillant also wrote several monographs on Middle American excavations. His major publications, although not lacking in theoretical import, are noteworthy primarily for the extensive and original field research they reflect.

Later in his career Vaillant excavated at several Aztec sites (Chiconautla and Nonoalco), but failed to publish these projects. Several decades later Christina Elson and other scholars at the American Museum of Natural History completed the study of artifacts from these sites and began a program to publish them.

Vaillant killed himself in Devon, Pennsylvania in 1945, at the age of 44.

- compiled from Wikipedia and Encyclopedia.com

Reviews

[Adam]

This was the most boring book EVER! I was constantly bored out of my mind with this book. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

[Arybo ✨]

Un po’ antiquato, ma come scorre bene 😌

[Bertie Brady]

The Aztecs of Mexico written by G.C. Vaillant covers the Aztec civilisation such as their formative history, culture, customs, economy, arts, and downfall at the hands of Cortez. Originally published in 1941 the book is somewhat dated but due to the lack of major archeological progress into the Aztec civilisations not as obviously dated as you would expect. Areas where this book is cearly dated are seen most evidently as the begining of the book when discussing precedding civilisations before the Aztecs.

The Aztecs of Mexico was a meticulous account on the Aztec civilisations mostly straying from a linear history of Aztec in favour of a discussion of the Aztecs cultural character a most fascinating topic given the Aztec's unique and underresearched development over many hundreds of years. Vaillant describes with great luccidity the Aztecs tribal goverments and somewhat loose system of laws which mostly relied on social heirachy and local community enforment.

Vaillant also discusses Aztec religion and rituals which show the Aztecs to be a very zealous civilisation with a strong belief in the power of their gods and even a calendar highly organised around relgious superstitions. One of the areas talked about the most in regards to Aztec religion is their human sacrifices which as Vaillant point out are not an overestimated aspect of Aztec culture. Often wars were though for the main purpose of acquring warriors for sacrifice (Flower wars) and other accounts record sacrifices on a mass scale in a attempt to gain the favour of the war god Huitzilopochtli.

The section on Aztec craftsmanship and fine arts was also well handled it is fascinating to see a culture which has produced such awe inspiring temples and architecture also lacking in knowledge and development in many other areas like sculping, daily equipment and weapons of war. The Aztec writing system however was more developed then a had thought. Although somewhat simplistic and pictographic it notheless was able to convey a great deal of important information.

The book also has sixty-four image plates which give greater insight into a particular area he is discussing. Each plate also has a detailed description on their context and importance.

The penultimate chapter on the Aztecs collapse was also very well written going over the key events which led to their subjecagation to Cortez and Spain. Vaillant discredits the notion of Montezuma's weakeness being a key reason as to why the Aztec's lost the war and instead lays the blame on the Aztecs perfidy and disunity. Despite this Vaillant in this chapter and throughout the book takes a very sypathetic view on the Aztecs somewhat suprising for a book written over eighty years ago. He challenges some Spanish accounts which paint the Aztecs in a negative light and praises the Aztecs for their many achievements and legacy in American history. He also notes that although the Aztec civilisation was decimated by the Spanish persecutions and diseases the legacy of the Aztecs does live on with modern Mexican people. Both in their ethnicity with most Mexicans being partial or mostly descendents of the Aztecs and in their customs and beliefs.

Overall a very authoritative, detailed and well written account on the Aztecs people.

[Vladimir Ghilien]

A bit unusually academic for a non-fiction book, but given it's been released in 1942, Valliant did an a great job. Very informative, considering the data available at the time. Enjoyed the read very much.

[Unagna]

Prosa meravigliosa. E poi ho sempre amato gli Aztechi sin da quando andavo alle elementari. Oh come vorrei aver visitato la città prima dell'arrivo degli europei. E il Messico descritto nel libro, degli anni '40!

[Agosto2010 fermare l'esecuzione di Ahmadreza Djala]

Datato, ma prima lettura archeologica . 1974

[S Ale Vazquez]

Es un libro con mucho contenido de valor. Si eres alguien que apenas está informándose sobre la cultura azteca/mexica este libro es un gran inicio. De mis favoritos.

[Bianca Borea]

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