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Ancient Peoples and Places
Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs
Fifth edition, revised and expanded
Michael D. Coe's Mexico has long been recognized as the most readable and authoritative introduction to the region’s ancient civilizations. This companion to his best-selling The Maya has now been completely revised and expanded for the fifth edition by Professor Coe and Rex Koontz. Colour plated an a section on touring Mexico have been added, making the book an even more valuable companion on any visit to Mexico's rich archaeological treasures.
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1962
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About the author
Michael D. Coe
59 books58 followersMichael Douglas Coe was an American archaeologist, anthropologist, epigrapher, and author. He is known for his research on pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, particularly the Maya, and was among the foremost Mayanists of the late twentieth century.
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March 29, 2023
A Rather Glorious Present As Well As Past
I have had difficulty in finding the best text for learning about the pre-Conquest history of Mesoamerica. There are several introductory series for schools which are too basic; and any number of professional tomes that provide much more than I need in terms of discussion of professional controversies and archaeological technique. This volume sits squarely in the middle of these two extremes. Written by a world-expert in the field, it is definitive without being pedantic, explanatory without being condescending to the amateur. The first quarter of the book discusses the largely speculative theories of the source and timing of the arrival of Asian settlers in the Americas. But this background can easily be skipped. It is after the introductory material that things get exciting.
For me, he most striking fact about the civilisations of Mesoamerican antiquity is their historiographic modernity. Aside from a few Spanish records from the time of the Conquest that report ancient legends of the last of these civilisations, the Aztecs, almost nothing was known of the development of Mexican and Mayan cultures. Not until the beginning of the 20th century was substantial archaeological and linguistic research begun. And not until the 1930’s was the earliest of these civilisations (and the earliest in all of the Americas), the Olmec, even known to have existed. As might be expected, therefore, understanding of the origins and the continuing cultural significance of these civilisations continues to advance at a rapid pace.
Yet another striking fact of Mesoamerican antiquity is its complexity. Unlike, say, the developmentally equivalent civilisations of Mesopotamia, Mexican culture in particular began and continued as a highly fragmented mix of ‘language-groups.’ Less than nations but more than tribes, these groups expanded and contracted in physical presence and influence like cultural amoebae. And while their amoebic movements may have involved violence on some small scale, they did not occur through invasion or large-scale military action (until the 15th century Aztec state which was constructed to permit constant warfare with its neighbours). Rather, the impetus for the inter-action of these groups was largely commercial rather than military. Even the great Aztec empire was a complex, quasi-feudal arrangement using the lingua franca of Nahuatl (which was not the Aztec mother-tongue but the common second language) rather than a strict hierarchy and unified cultural identifiers.
So rather than being destroyed by, or directly assimilated into some other dominant power, the successive civilisations of Mesoamerica seem simply to have evaporated or self-destructed, or simply retreated to obscurity - as in the important cities of San Lorenzo (Olmec), Monte Albán (Zapotec), Tula (Toltec), Atzcapotzalco (Tepanec) and the still mysterious Teotihuacan - leaving behind the legacy of a still living language as well as artefacts ranging from unexceptional household items to magnificent art works and monumental constructions. But aside from the fragmentary legends recorded by successor civilisations, the culture itself was essentially dead with only indirect absorption, if any, into the newly dominant civilisation. Most interesting for me is that many (most?) of the original languages along with their associated mythologies and legendary histories remain active among significant populations. But only place names may recall their previous importance. Some written languages remain undeciphered to the present day, emphasising the depth of obscurity reached by formerly dominant groups.
The Aztecs themselves were not ‘locals’ but Chichimeca of the Northern deserts, the equivalent of the Germanic barbarians who swept down upon the decaying Roman Empire or the Mongols who overcame the Jin dynasty in the 13th century. The situation seems similar to that of fifth and sixth century Britain. Progressive Anglo-Saxon settlement occurred with very little cultural effect on the existing British-Romano culture. For example, I am reliably informed that there are even today more words of Russian origin in the English language than there are derived from British-Celtic (indeed there may be more Nahuatl Aztec words than Welsh in modern English, including tomato coyote, ocelot and cocoa). Yet the established and the invading communities lived in relatively close proximity to one another. A similar kind of cultural separation apparently was maintained in Greenland between the Scandinavian settlers and the Inuit (much to the disadvantage of the Scandinavians who didn’t understand the rudiments of survival and either died off or left).
So minimally the history of Mesoamerica is intriguing. It may even provoke some interesting thoughts about one’s own history - one example being theological. The gods of Teotihuacan sacrificed themselves for the benefit of humanity, including human resurrection after death (also, incidentally, the first city to be laid out in a grid plan). The Aztecs considered themselves to be the chosen people of the gods, with a divine mission to restore the world in a manner not unlike that of Christianity. They also used a form of baptism as a welcome into the Aztec community and performed a kind of religious communion in which they consumed the grain-based likeness of a god, the key ritual of Christianity.*
Other social characteristics are equally interesting. The intriguing and deadly ball game with which late Classical period cultures were obsessed may have been a substitute for actual combat - and not a bad adaptation relevant to modern warfare. Among the Aztecs, education was universal and mandatory for both boys and girls. On the other hand, these cultures thought the wheel was only suitable for children’s toys and was not used for any sort of transportation. The sophistication and beauty of the sculptural, mural and monumental art left behind is inspiring. And the mysteries of written and spoken languages, cosmological beliefs, and social relationships are fascinating and far from being resolved.
In short, this and the companion volume about the Mayas, is a must read for the enthusiastic history buff.
* I am unaware of any studies comparing Aztec and Christian theology. But it is interesting to note that the Aztecs are strict theological monists, that is they believed that the world is not divided neatly into good and evil but it (and God) is composed of the conjunction of opposites. This is consistent not only with the pre-Socratic philosophers like Heraclitus, but also with contemporary Christian theologians such as the 15th century Nicholas of Cusa. Kant and Hegel, of course, developed an entire mode of philosophy based on this principle in the 18th and 19th centuries. And the 20th century psychology of Carl Jung is explicitly keyed on the conjunction of opposites in every human being. Perhaps it was their devotion to this idea that allowed the Aztecs to indulge in massive human sacrifice while maintaining a highly puritanical social regime which also appreciated poetry and art. This clearly was not a simple society.
I have had difficulty in finding the best text for learning about the pre-Conquest history of Mesoamerica. There are several introductory series for schools which are too basic; and any number of professional tomes that provide much more than I need in terms of discussion of professional controversies and archaeological technique. This volume sits squarely in the middle of these two extremes. Written by a world-expert in the field, it is definitive without being pedantic, explanatory without being condescending to the amateur. The first quarter of the book discusses the largely speculative theories of the source and timing of the arrival of Asian settlers in the Americas. But this background can easily be skipped. It is after the introductory material that things get exciting.
For me, he most striking fact about the civilisations of Mesoamerican antiquity is their historiographic modernity. Aside from a few Spanish records from the time of the Conquest that report ancient legends of the last of these civilisations, the Aztecs, almost nothing was known of the development of Mexican and Mayan cultures. Not until the beginning of the 20th century was substantial archaeological and linguistic research begun. And not until the 1930’s was the earliest of these civilisations (and the earliest in all of the Americas), the Olmec, even known to have existed. As might be expected, therefore, understanding of the origins and the continuing cultural significance of these civilisations continues to advance at a rapid pace.
Yet another striking fact of Mesoamerican antiquity is its complexity. Unlike, say, the developmentally equivalent civilisations of Mesopotamia, Mexican culture in particular began and continued as a highly fragmented mix of ‘language-groups.’ Less than nations but more than tribes, these groups expanded and contracted in physical presence and influence like cultural amoebae. And while their amoebic movements may have involved violence on some small scale, they did not occur through invasion or large-scale military action (until the 15th century Aztec state which was constructed to permit constant warfare with its neighbours). Rather, the impetus for the inter-action of these groups was largely commercial rather than military. Even the great Aztec empire was a complex, quasi-feudal arrangement using the lingua franca of Nahuatl (which was not the Aztec mother-tongue but the common second language) rather than a strict hierarchy and unified cultural identifiers.
So rather than being destroyed by, or directly assimilated into some other dominant power, the successive civilisations of Mesoamerica seem simply to have evaporated or self-destructed, or simply retreated to obscurity - as in the important cities of San Lorenzo (Olmec), Monte Albán (Zapotec), Tula (Toltec), Atzcapotzalco (Tepanec) and the still mysterious Teotihuacan - leaving behind the legacy of a still living language as well as artefacts ranging from unexceptional household items to magnificent art works and monumental constructions. But aside from the fragmentary legends recorded by successor civilisations, the culture itself was essentially dead with only indirect absorption, if any, into the newly dominant civilisation. Most interesting for me is that many (most?) of the original languages along with their associated mythologies and legendary histories remain active among significant populations. But only place names may recall their previous importance. Some written languages remain undeciphered to the present day, emphasising the depth of obscurity reached by formerly dominant groups.
The Aztecs themselves were not ‘locals’ but Chichimeca of the Northern deserts, the equivalent of the Germanic barbarians who swept down upon the decaying Roman Empire or the Mongols who overcame the Jin dynasty in the 13th century. The situation seems similar to that of fifth and sixth century Britain. Progressive Anglo-Saxon settlement occurred with very little cultural effect on the existing British-Romano culture. For example, I am reliably informed that there are even today more words of Russian origin in the English language than there are derived from British-Celtic (indeed there may be more Nahuatl Aztec words than Welsh in modern English, including tomato coyote, ocelot and cocoa). Yet the established and the invading communities lived in relatively close proximity to one another. A similar kind of cultural separation apparently was maintained in Greenland between the Scandinavian settlers and the Inuit (much to the disadvantage of the Scandinavians who didn’t understand the rudiments of survival and either died off or left).
So minimally the history of Mesoamerica is intriguing. It may even provoke some interesting thoughts about one’s own history - one example being theological. The gods of Teotihuacan sacrificed themselves for the benefit of humanity, including human resurrection after death (also, incidentally, the first city to be laid out in a grid plan). The Aztecs considered themselves to be the chosen people of the gods, with a divine mission to restore the world in a manner not unlike that of Christianity. They also used a form of baptism as a welcome into the Aztec community and performed a kind of religious communion in which they consumed the grain-based likeness of a god, the key ritual of Christianity.*
Other social characteristics are equally interesting. The intriguing and deadly ball game with which late Classical period cultures were obsessed may have been a substitute for actual combat - and not a bad adaptation relevant to modern warfare. Among the Aztecs, education was universal and mandatory for both boys and girls. On the other hand, these cultures thought the wheel was only suitable for children’s toys and was not used for any sort of transportation. The sophistication and beauty of the sculptural, mural and monumental art left behind is inspiring. And the mysteries of written and spoken languages, cosmological beliefs, and social relationships are fascinating and far from being resolved.
In short, this and the companion volume about the Mayas, is a must read for the enthusiastic history buff.
* I am unaware of any studies comparing Aztec and Christian theology. But it is interesting to note that the Aztecs are strict theological monists, that is they believed that the world is not divided neatly into good and evil but it (and God) is composed of the conjunction of opposites. This is consistent not only with the pre-Socratic philosophers like Heraclitus, but also with contemporary Christian theologians such as the 15th century Nicholas of Cusa. Kant and Hegel, of course, developed an entire mode of philosophy based on this principle in the 18th and 19th centuries. And the 20th century psychology of Carl Jung is explicitly keyed on the conjunction of opposites in every human being. Perhaps it was their devotion to this idea that allowed the Aztecs to indulge in massive human sacrifice while maintaining a highly puritanical social regime which also appreciated poetry and art. This clearly was not a simple society.
October 31, 2017
meximum points for an interesting book
Loaded with excellent photos of objects, with drawings, architectural plans, and maps, this is one of Thames and Hudson's great books for which the authors should be congratulated. Written in readable style, with a mixture of iconographic detail and summaries of knowledge about different periods of Mexican history, this book is a fabulous introduction to the ancient civilizations of Mexico except for the Maya. I believe there is a separate volume for them. We start in the distant past of village life, moving towards the early urban civilizations, then to the Classic periods of the Olmecs, Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, Cacaxtala and others, then to the Toltecs, and finally to the Aztecs. If you read MEXICO: you will come away with an excellent basic understanding of what is known so far about those ancient peoples and cultures. Given that there was far more information available about the Aztecs, I found that section the most fascinating, but it's all good. There's an epilogue, dealing with the Spanish conquest and even a section about visiting Mexico (rather unexpected). If you are teaching an introductory course on Mexico, this could be a textbook. If you are planning a trip to the country and want an overview, this is it. If you are at home, trying to get a handle on all the -ecs of the Mexican past, you can straighten a lot of it out right here.
Loaded with excellent photos of objects, with drawings, architectural plans, and maps, this is one of Thames and Hudson's great books for which the authors should be congratulated. Written in readable style, with a mixture of iconographic detail and summaries of knowledge about different periods of Mexican history, this book is a fabulous introduction to the ancient civilizations of Mexico except for the Maya. I believe there is a separate volume for them. We start in the distant past of village life, moving towards the early urban civilizations, then to the Classic periods of the Olmecs, Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, Cacaxtala and others, then to the Toltecs, and finally to the Aztecs. If you read MEXICO: you will come away with an excellent basic understanding of what is known so far about those ancient peoples and cultures. Given that there was far more information available about the Aztecs, I found that section the most fascinating, but it's all good. There's an epilogue, dealing with the Spanish conquest and even a section about visiting Mexico (rather unexpected). If you are teaching an introductory course on Mexico, this could be a textbook. If you are planning a trip to the country and want an overview, this is it. If you are at home, trying to get a handle on all the -ecs of the Mexican past, you can straighten a lot of it out right here.
July 13, 2018
I've tried before, and it is actually hard to find such a well-written introductory yet scholarly book that informs us of all the Mesoamerican Empires in a chronological manner, from the arrival of hunter-gatherers and the start of agriculture, to the Pre-classical period of the Olmecs and Zapotecs, the Classical period of organized, mercantile city-states Teotihuacan and Monte Alban, the Epiclassical reign of minor civilizations like Xochicalco, the rise of a craftsman-like culture with the Toltecs, and ultimately the savage, heart-sacrificing, cannibalistic Spartan empire of the Aztecs. Each civilization gets about 25 pages each, with plentiful pictures, and thus do not beggar their welcome with the leisurely reader.
January 12, 2021
It’s not bad as a simplified archaeological overview, and the pictures are fantastic! Super clear photos and detailed drawings. However, this book is so westernised in outlook that it makes you question every interpretation. It got to the point where the author would say ‘they fished in the river’ and I’d quickly google that first to check viability. Someone who throws around words like primitive, savages, backwater, ‘a black’ (!), and who describes both real disabled people and their depictions in art as ‘monstrosities’ (!!) doesn’t really come off as someone who is trustworthy and level in their analysis.
The author continuously falls into the trap of mysticising ancient Mesoamerican cultures, for example by referring to evidence of drainage systems on a plateau in San Lorenzo, a region that gets a massive amount of annual rainfall and is a flood plain, as related to ‘ceremonial pools’, a claim not supported by evidence. To extrapolate religious or spiritual meanings to material infrastructure is a symptom of a greater inability to levelly interpret the data at hand. This is the go to for lazy western anthropology. Worse, it’s often used as a way of sign-posting ‘uncivilised’ or lesser indigenous cultures. Making out that every artefact is related to an ill-defined spiritual life, despite having no translatable written evidence or clues beyond a hunch, is shitty history. Mysticising Mesoamerican cultures is a symptom of a failure to see their people as human beings.
The foundation of the author’s societal framework is best summed up in a throwaway comment describing the Middle Preclassic settlements in the Valley of Mexico: ‘Perhaps the surroundings were too bountiful for the stimulation that a people seem to need in order to make real progress’. What a great representation of how the western world is still gripped in The Golden Bough/Freudian style anthropology about the hierarchy of civilisational progress! It’s sad that the author can reflect on the genocidal atrocities of the Spanish conquest and the devastating effects on indigenous culture that later settlement and modern day programmes enforce, but appears not to have the capacity for reflection on the continuing imperialism of thought forcing European standards onto cultures and measuring their position on a ladder leading to True Civilisation (white European modernity).
The author continuously falls into the trap of mysticising ancient Mesoamerican cultures, for example by referring to evidence of drainage systems on a plateau in San Lorenzo, a region that gets a massive amount of annual rainfall and is a flood plain, as related to ‘ceremonial pools’, a claim not supported by evidence. To extrapolate religious or spiritual meanings to material infrastructure is a symptom of a greater inability to levelly interpret the data at hand. This is the go to for lazy western anthropology. Worse, it’s often used as a way of sign-posting ‘uncivilised’ or lesser indigenous cultures. Making out that every artefact is related to an ill-defined spiritual life, despite having no translatable written evidence or clues beyond a hunch, is shitty history. Mysticising Mesoamerican cultures is a symptom of a failure to see their people as human beings.
The foundation of the author’s societal framework is best summed up in a throwaway comment describing the Middle Preclassic settlements in the Valley of Mexico: ‘Perhaps the surroundings were too bountiful for the stimulation that a people seem to need in order to make real progress’. What a great representation of how the western world is still gripped in The Golden Bough/Freudian style anthropology about the hierarchy of civilisational progress! It’s sad that the author can reflect on the genocidal atrocities of the Spanish conquest and the devastating effects on indigenous culture that later settlement and modern day programmes enforce, but appears not to have the capacity for reflection on the continuing imperialism of thought forcing European standards onto cultures and measuring their position on a ladder leading to True Civilisation (white European modernity).
September 9, 2022
The New Trinity:
Blood-Fetishism – Blood-Catharsis – Blood-Donation
This book, which was republished seven times between 1962 and 2013, and got its eighth edition in 2018, must satisfy a need in its market to be that successful. It is a book that targets various audiences. Not the extremely competent specialized researchers on the subject, but the wide public – though educated probably at college level, and then the more specialized people who are more than just interested, like people in the tourist industry, or people who want to travel to Mexico, though less involved than in deep research on the topic.
I will look at this book from this educated and deeply interested point of view of an audience with at least two years of college education in history and archaeology/anthropology, but not too much in linguistics. The 2013 edition I am working on, of course, does not consider what has been brought to light in the last ten years. These recent discoveries bring up new questions. Most of the time, these questions are kept on the side of the main discourse as a footnote or a comment that is not developed. I will give some examples. The original author, and then the second author-editor want to be factual, descriptive, and explanatory enough for the readers to follow what is a timeline from ca. 2000 BCE to precisely AD 1521, the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards.
The timeline is explicit about the sequential positions of the different people. Olmecs first, then the Zapotecs, the Toltecs, the Mixtecs, the Huastecs, the Tarascans, and the Aztecs; Some, if not all, overlap over the previous one or the next one. The Mayas are mentioned but marginally. That’s probably an element that, in a way, warps the presentation. Michael Coe is thinking phylogenetically, and he is trying to find the various stages of this evolution in Mexico, but he only covers a very precise period, from 2000 BCE to the Conquest in 1521. But there is no phylogeny that does not consider what was before the starting point, and what the context is, hence the wider geographical area that contains Mexico but goes somewhat beyond in two essential directions, south and north. First South, to South America, and that is less than we may think, or from South America north, and here the real situation is vastly underrepresented in this book. Second from North America south, and it is mostly little, except from Southwest North America, and to North America, and this time the cultural and demographic circulation in that direction has not been explored the way it should be, and it is too often reduced to the Southwest region of this North America. When I ask these questions, I consider a vast movement from South America to North America, from South to North, has to be stated and explored, and Mexico is, in fact, the meeting point, or meeting territory between the movement from South to North and the movement from North to South, and the first one is a lot more important than the second. This movement is confirmed by agriculture that started in Bolivian Amazonia 6,000 years before the period considered in this book in Mexico:
“Southwest Amazonia has been confirmed as one of the earliest centers of plant domestication in the world. From their arrival 10,000 years ago, human inhabitants in what is now Llanos de Moxos in northern Bolivia created thousands of artificial forest islands as they tamed wild plants to produce food […]. They began growing manioc and squash, a development the researchers suggest is as significant as the cultivation of rice in China, grains and pulses in the Middle East, maize, beans and squash in Mesoamerica, and potatoes and quinoa in the Andes. The international team undertook a large-scale analysis of 61 archaeological sites identified by remote sensing, retrieving samples from 30 forest islands and carrying out archaeological excavations in four of them.”
(“Amazonian crops domesticated 10,000 years ago,” Cosmos Magazine, 9 April 2020, https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/am..., Original, Lombardo, U., Iriarte, J., Hilbert, L. et al. “Early Holocene crop cultivation and landscape modification in Amazonia,” Nature 581, 190–193 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-21... )
[…]
A beautiful book with pretty illustrations, and if you try to delve into these cultures, you might finally understand that ergative war wants to make us believe it is inevitable, hence the ergative object of the future. Let us ask the book to give us the final ergative poem we need for the road.
With flowers You paint,
O giver of like!
With songs You give color,
with songs You shade
those who will live on the earth.
Later You will destroy eagles and jaguars:
we live only in Your painting
here, on the earth.
With black ink You will blot out
all that was friendship,
brotherhood, nobility.
You give shading
to those who will live on the earth.
We live only in Your book of paintings,
here on the earth.
Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU
V ERSION FRANÇAISE
LA NOUVELLE TRINITÉ :
FÉTICHISME DE SANG - CATHARSIS DE SANG - DONATION DE SANG.
Ce livre qui a été réédité sept fois entre 1962 et 2013, et a atteint sa huitième édition en 2018, doit répondre à un besoin sur son marché pour avoir un tel succès. C'est un livre qui s'adresse à différents publics. Pas les chercheurs spécialisés extrêmement compétents sur le sujet, mais le grand public - bien qu'éduqué probablement à niveau universitaire, et puis les personnes plus spécialisées qui sont plus qu'intéressées, comme les gens de l'industrie touristique, ou les personnes qui veulent voyager au Mexique, bien que moins impliquées que dans une recherche approfondie sur le sujet.
Je vais considérer ce livre de ce point de vue éduqué et profondément intéressé d'un public ayant au moins deux ans d'études universitaires en histoire et en archéologie/anthropologie, mais pas trop en linguistique. L'édition 2013 sur laquelle je travaille ne tient, bien sûr, pas compte de ce qui a été mis en lumière au cours des dix dernières années. Ces découvertes récentes soulèvent de nouvelles questions. La plupart du temps, ces questions, quand elles apparaissent, restent à l'écart du discours principal, comme des notes de bas de page ou un commentaire marginal qui n'est pas développé. Je vais donner quelques exemples. L'auteur original, puis le second auteur-rédacteur veulent être suffisamment factuels, descriptifs et explicatifs pour que les lecteurs puissent suivre ce qui est une ligne du temps allant d'environ 2000 avant JC à précisément 1521 après JC, date de la conquête du Mexique par les Espagnols.
La chronologie est explicite quant aux positions séquentielles des différents peuples. Les Olmecs d'abord, puis les Zapotecs, les Toltecs, les Mixtecs, les Huastecs, les Tarascans et les Aztecs ; certains, sinon tous, chevauchent le précédent ou le suivant. Les Mayas sont mentionnés mais de façon marginale. C'est probablement un élément qui, d'une certaine manière, fausse la présentation. Michael Coe raisonne de manière phylogénétique, et il essaie de retrouver les différentes étapes de cette évolution au Mexique, mais il ne couvre qu'une période très précise, de 2000 avant notre ère à la Conquête en 1521. Mais il n'y a pas de phylogénie qui ne tienne pas compte de ce qui était avant le point de départ, et du contexte, donc de la zone géographique plus large qui contient le Mexique mais qui va un peu au-delà dans deux directions essentielles, le sud et le nord. D'abord le sud, vers l'Amérique du Sud, et c'est moins que ce que l'on peut penser, ou depuis l'Amérique du Sud vers le nord, et ici la situation réelle est largement sous-représentée dans ce livre. Ensuite, de l'Amérique du Nord vers le sud, et c'est très peu, sauf du sud-ouest de l'Amérique du Nord, et vers l'Amérique du Nord, et cette fois la circulation culturelle et démographique dans cette direction n'a pas été explorée comme elle aurait dû l'être, et elle est trop souvent réduite à la région sud-ouest de cette Amérique du Nord. Quand je pose ces questions, je considère qu'un vaste mouvement de l'Amérique du Sud vers l'Amérique du Nord, du Sud vers le Nord, doit être énoncé et exploré, et le Mexique est, en fait, le point de rencontre, ou le territoire de rencontre entre le mouvement du Sud vers le Nord et le mouvement du Nord vers le Sud, et le premier est beaucoup plus important que le second. Ce mouvement est confirmé par l'agriculture qui a commencé en Amazonie bolivienne 6 000 ans avant la période considérée dans ce livre au Mexique :
"Le sud-ouest de l'Amazonie a été confirmé comme l'un des premiers centres de domestication des plantes au monde. Dès leur arrivée, il y a 10 000 ans, les habitants humains de ce qui est aujourd'hui les Llanos de Moxos, dans le nord de la Bolivie, ont créé des milliers d'îlots forestiers artificiels tout en apprivoisant les plantes sauvages pour produire de la nourriture [...]. Ils ont commencé à cultiver du manioc et des courges, une évolution qui, selon les chercheurs, est aussi importante que la culture du riz en Chine, des céréales et des légumineuses au Moyen-Orient, du maïs, des haricots et des courges en Méso-Amérique, et des pommes de terre et du quinoa dans les Andes. L'équipe internationale a entrepris une analyse à grande échelle de 61 sites archéologiques identifiés par télédétection, en prélevant des échantillons dans 30 îlots forestiers et en effectuant des fouilles archéologiques dans quatre d'entre eux."
("Amazonian crops domesticated 10,000 years ago ", Cosmos Magazine, 9 avril 2020, https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/am..., Article original, Lombardo, U., Iriarte, J., Hilbert, L. et al. " Early Holocene crop cultivation and landscape modification in Amazonia ", Nature 581, 190-193 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-21...).
[...]
Un beau livre avec de nombreuses illustrations, et si vous essayez de vous plonger dans ces cultures, vous pourriez enfin comprendre que la guerre ergative veut nous faire croire qu'elle est inévitable, et donc l'objet ergatif du futur. Demandons au livre de nous donner le dernier poème ergatif dont nous avons besoin pour la route et dans le quel nous, les sujets et agents de nos vies, ne sommes plus que des illustrations dans le livre d’images du cosmos que le principe fondateur de ce cosmos que certains diront créateur comme si nous étions les personnages d’un jeu électronique entre les mains d’extraterrestres d’une cinquième ou sixième dimension.
Avec des fleurs Tu peins
O Donneur de vie !
Avec des chansons Tu donnes de la couleur,
Avec des chansons Tu ombres
ceux qui veulent vivre sur la terre.
Plus tard, Tu détruiras les aigles et les jaguars :
nous ne vivons que dans Ton tableau
ici, sur la terre.
Avec de l'encre noire, Tu effaceras
tout ce qui n’était qu’amitié,
fraternité, noblesse.
Tu donnes de l'ombre
à ceux qui veulent vivre sur la terre.
Nous ne vivons que dans Ton livre d‘esquisses,
ici sur la terre.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Blood-Fetishism – Blood-Catharsis – Blood-Donation
This book, which was republished seven times between 1962 and 2013, and got its eighth edition in 2018, must satisfy a need in its market to be that successful. It is a book that targets various audiences. Not the extremely competent specialized researchers on the subject, but the wide public – though educated probably at college level, and then the more specialized people who are more than just interested, like people in the tourist industry, or people who want to travel to Mexico, though less involved than in deep research on the topic.
I will look at this book from this educated and deeply interested point of view of an audience with at least two years of college education in history and archaeology/anthropology, but not too much in linguistics. The 2013 edition I am working on, of course, does not consider what has been brought to light in the last ten years. These recent discoveries bring up new questions. Most of the time, these questions are kept on the side of the main discourse as a footnote or a comment that is not developed. I will give some examples. The original author, and then the second author-editor want to be factual, descriptive, and explanatory enough for the readers to follow what is a timeline from ca. 2000 BCE to precisely AD 1521, the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards.
The timeline is explicit about the sequential positions of the different people. Olmecs first, then the Zapotecs, the Toltecs, the Mixtecs, the Huastecs, the Tarascans, and the Aztecs; Some, if not all, overlap over the previous one or the next one. The Mayas are mentioned but marginally. That’s probably an element that, in a way, warps the presentation. Michael Coe is thinking phylogenetically, and he is trying to find the various stages of this evolution in Mexico, but he only covers a very precise period, from 2000 BCE to the Conquest in 1521. But there is no phylogeny that does not consider what was before the starting point, and what the context is, hence the wider geographical area that contains Mexico but goes somewhat beyond in two essential directions, south and north. First South, to South America, and that is less than we may think, or from South America north, and here the real situation is vastly underrepresented in this book. Second from North America south, and it is mostly little, except from Southwest North America, and to North America, and this time the cultural and demographic circulation in that direction has not been explored the way it should be, and it is too often reduced to the Southwest region of this North America. When I ask these questions, I consider a vast movement from South America to North America, from South to North, has to be stated and explored, and Mexico is, in fact, the meeting point, or meeting territory between the movement from South to North and the movement from North to South, and the first one is a lot more important than the second. This movement is confirmed by agriculture that started in Bolivian Amazonia 6,000 years before the period considered in this book in Mexico:
“Southwest Amazonia has been confirmed as one of the earliest centers of plant domestication in the world. From their arrival 10,000 years ago, human inhabitants in what is now Llanos de Moxos in northern Bolivia created thousands of artificial forest islands as they tamed wild plants to produce food […]. They began growing manioc and squash, a development the researchers suggest is as significant as the cultivation of rice in China, grains and pulses in the Middle East, maize, beans and squash in Mesoamerica, and potatoes and quinoa in the Andes. The international team undertook a large-scale analysis of 61 archaeological sites identified by remote sensing, retrieving samples from 30 forest islands and carrying out archaeological excavations in four of them.”
(“Amazonian crops domesticated 10,000 years ago,” Cosmos Magazine, 9 April 2020, https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/am..., Original, Lombardo, U., Iriarte, J., Hilbert, L. et al. “Early Holocene crop cultivation and landscape modification in Amazonia,” Nature 581, 190–193 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-21... )
[…]
A beautiful book with pretty illustrations, and if you try to delve into these cultures, you might finally understand that ergative war wants to make us believe it is inevitable, hence the ergative object of the future. Let us ask the book to give us the final ergative poem we need for the road.
With flowers You paint,
O giver of like!
With songs You give color,
with songs You shade
those who will live on the earth.
Later You will destroy eagles and jaguars:
we live only in Your painting
here, on the earth.
With black ink You will blot out
all that was friendship,
brotherhood, nobility.
You give shading
to those who will live on the earth.
We live only in Your book of paintings,
here on the earth.
Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU
V ERSION FRANÇAISE
LA NOUVELLE TRINITÉ :
FÉTICHISME DE SANG - CATHARSIS DE SANG - DONATION DE SANG.
Ce livre qui a été réédité sept fois entre 1962 et 2013, et a atteint sa huitième édition en 2018, doit répondre à un besoin sur son marché pour avoir un tel succès. C'est un livre qui s'adresse à différents publics. Pas les chercheurs spécialisés extrêmement compétents sur le sujet, mais le grand public - bien qu'éduqué probablement à niveau universitaire, et puis les personnes plus spécialisées qui sont plus qu'intéressées, comme les gens de l'industrie touristique, ou les personnes qui veulent voyager au Mexique, bien que moins impliquées que dans une recherche approfondie sur le sujet.
Je vais considérer ce livre de ce point de vue éduqué et profondément intéressé d'un public ayant au moins deux ans d'études universitaires en histoire et en archéologie/anthropologie, mais pas trop en linguistique. L'édition 2013 sur laquelle je travaille ne tient, bien sûr, pas compte de ce qui a été mis en lumière au cours des dix dernières années. Ces découvertes récentes soulèvent de nouvelles questions. La plupart du temps, ces questions, quand elles apparaissent, restent à l'écart du discours principal, comme des notes de bas de page ou un commentaire marginal qui n'est pas développé. Je vais donner quelques exemples. L'auteur original, puis le second auteur-rédacteur veulent être suffisamment factuels, descriptifs et explicatifs pour que les lecteurs puissent suivre ce qui est une ligne du temps allant d'environ 2000 avant JC à précisément 1521 après JC, date de la conquête du Mexique par les Espagnols.
La chronologie est explicite quant aux positions séquentielles des différents peuples. Les Olmecs d'abord, puis les Zapotecs, les Toltecs, les Mixtecs, les Huastecs, les Tarascans et les Aztecs ; certains, sinon tous, chevauchent le précédent ou le suivant. Les Mayas sont mentionnés mais de façon marginale. C'est probablement un élément qui, d'une certaine manière, fausse la présentation. Michael Coe raisonne de manière phylogénétique, et il essaie de retrouver les différentes étapes de cette évolution au Mexique, mais il ne couvre qu'une période très précise, de 2000 avant notre ère à la Conquête en 1521. Mais il n'y a pas de phylogénie qui ne tienne pas compte de ce qui était avant le point de départ, et du contexte, donc de la zone géographique plus large qui contient le Mexique mais qui va un peu au-delà dans deux directions essentielles, le sud et le nord. D'abord le sud, vers l'Amérique du Sud, et c'est moins que ce que l'on peut penser, ou depuis l'Amérique du Sud vers le nord, et ici la situation réelle est largement sous-représentée dans ce livre. Ensuite, de l'Amérique du Nord vers le sud, et c'est très peu, sauf du sud-ouest de l'Amérique du Nord, et vers l'Amérique du Nord, et cette fois la circulation culturelle et démographique dans cette direction n'a pas été explorée comme elle aurait dû l'être, et elle est trop souvent réduite à la région sud-ouest de cette Amérique du Nord. Quand je pose ces questions, je considère qu'un vaste mouvement de l'Amérique du Sud vers l'Amérique du Nord, du Sud vers le Nord, doit être énoncé et exploré, et le Mexique est, en fait, le point de rencontre, ou le territoire de rencontre entre le mouvement du Sud vers le Nord et le mouvement du Nord vers le Sud, et le premier est beaucoup plus important que le second. Ce mouvement est confirmé par l'agriculture qui a commencé en Amazonie bolivienne 6 000 ans avant la période considérée dans ce livre au Mexique :
"Le sud-ouest de l'Amazonie a été confirmé comme l'un des premiers centres de domestication des plantes au monde. Dès leur arrivée, il y a 10 000 ans, les habitants humains de ce qui est aujourd'hui les Llanos de Moxos, dans le nord de la Bolivie, ont créé des milliers d'îlots forestiers artificiels tout en apprivoisant les plantes sauvages pour produire de la nourriture [...]. Ils ont commencé à cultiver du manioc et des courges, une évolution qui, selon les chercheurs, est aussi importante que la culture du riz en Chine, des céréales et des légumineuses au Moyen-Orient, du maïs, des haricots et des courges en Méso-Amérique, et des pommes de terre et du quinoa dans les Andes. L'équipe internationale a entrepris une analyse à grande échelle de 61 sites archéologiques identifiés par télédétection, en prélevant des échantillons dans 30 îlots forestiers et en effectuant des fouilles archéologiques dans quatre d'entre eux."
("Amazonian crops domesticated 10,000 years ago ", Cosmos Magazine, 9 avril 2020, https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/am..., Article original, Lombardo, U., Iriarte, J., Hilbert, L. et al. " Early Holocene crop cultivation and landscape modification in Amazonia ", Nature 581, 190-193 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-21...).
[...]
Un beau livre avec de nombreuses illustrations, et si vous essayez de vous plonger dans ces cultures, vous pourriez enfin comprendre que la guerre ergative veut nous faire croire qu'elle est inévitable, et donc l'objet ergatif du futur. Demandons au livre de nous donner le dernier poème ergatif dont nous avons besoin pour la route et dans le quel nous, les sujets et agents de nos vies, ne sommes plus que des illustrations dans le livre d’images du cosmos que le principe fondateur de ce cosmos que certains diront créateur comme si nous étions les personnages d’un jeu électronique entre les mains d’extraterrestres d’une cinquième ou sixième dimension.
Avec des fleurs Tu peins
O Donneur de vie !
Avec des chansons Tu donnes de la couleur,
Avec des chansons Tu ombres
ceux qui veulent vivre sur la terre.
Plus tard, Tu détruiras les aigles et les jaguars :
nous ne vivons que dans Ton tableau
ici, sur la terre.
Avec de l'encre noire, Tu effaceras
tout ce qui n’était qu’amitié,
fraternité, noblesse.
Tu donnes de l'ombre
à ceux qui veulent vivre sur la terre.
Nous ne vivons que dans Ton livre d‘esquisses,
ici sur la terre.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
July 13, 2022
No one was doing it like the Aztecs and their ancestors. Let us raise a glass to the makers of the finest art tradition this world will ever know
November 20, 2010
Michael Coe and his book on "Mexico" in the Ancient Peoples and Places series I must admit was boring the first half, it improved dramatically in the second half when it began talking about the Formative Period. The main civilizations of the middle and southern Mexican regions were in order, the Olmec, Monte Alban I, Izapan these falling in the Formative Period roughly 1500 BC to 300 AD. Then came the Classical Period 300-900 AD and the civilization of the Teotihuacan, the classic Veracruz civilization, and classic Monte Alban. This was the Mexican golden age. Art and Science reached their highest refinement and literacy was widespread. Then came the Post-Classic Period and the rise of the early Militarists, a period divided into early and late and spanning the years 900-1524 AD. You have the Toltecs, the Zapotecs, the Mixtecs, and finally the Aztecs. Quite frankly I found the post-classical period the most interesting by far and the Aztecs at the top of that pile. Here is a group of people who from the deserts in the North enter into the historical picture as vagrants despised by all the civilized peoples of Mexico. The people of Colhuacan finally allowed them to work their lands as serfs and even allowed their chief to marry a Colhuacan princess, whom they sacrificed instead. So for this act they were driven out of the land. From there they wandered the land living a hand to mouth existence, until they came to a great lake and they seen an eagle on a cactus holding a snake in its mouth. This was a fulfillment of one of their prophecies and there they bult their city. They prospered as mercenaries in the armies of the Tepanec Kingdom of Atzcapotzalco ruled by Tezozomoc. Tezozomoc gave the Aztecs their first king, Acamapichtli (1367-87). Itzcoatl the fourth king went to war and overthrew their overlord, the Tepanecs, thereby becoming the greatest state in Mexico. From there the kings' who followed continued the expansion of the empire until the ill-fated Moctezuma II.
The Aztecs created an incredible empire and the economy ran on mainly barter items. There was no money. Cocoa beans, quills with gold dust, and manufactured items pretty much was the coin of the day. Furthermore tribute was the grease which kept the wheels of empire wet. From Maize, beans, sage seed, and grain amaranth, cotton cloaks and war constumes, amber and feather headdresses, such was the tribute which flowed into the capital and outwards once again to pay and supply soldiers. The Spanish were intrigued with the exactness of the system, no doubt wondering how to use it for themselves LOL!
Although not much of the poetry or songs were presented in the book there were a few short pieces included. Who can deny the sweetness of the following pieces........
The battlefield is the place:
where one toasts the divine liquor in war,
where are stained red the divine eagles,
where the tigers howl,
where all kinds of precious stones rain from ornaments,
where brave headdresses rich with fine plumes,
where princes are smashed to bits.
----- and -----
There is nothing like death in war,
nothing like the flowery death
so precious to Him who gives life:
far off I see it: my heart yearns for it!
---- then on attributed to a King Nezahualcoyotl of Texcoco
Even jade is shattered,
Even gold is crushed,
Even quetzal plumes are torn ......
One does not live forever on this earth:
We endure only for an instant!
Wow, such finality in thought and such passion for the joys of battle and death! Makes me want to find some translations of Nahuatl songs that still exist and revel in their thoughts about life and death, devotion and sacrifice. Lofty topics indeed!
Well that is a decent overview of that period, of course the Spanish came and wiped the Aztecs out. Now I know there are alot of people who want to blame the "white man" for destroying Indian civilization but to tell the truth, the Indians were quite capable, and did repeatedly, wipe out civilization after civilization on their own. The Spanish were simply another link in the chain of conquests which had been going on in this area for 2000 years or more. So to hell with the naysayers and whiners for the Aztecs themselves understood full well that the fruits of victory go to the strongest. Only this time it wasn't them.
The Aztecs created an incredible empire and the economy ran on mainly barter items. There was no money. Cocoa beans, quills with gold dust, and manufactured items pretty much was the coin of the day. Furthermore tribute was the grease which kept the wheels of empire wet. From Maize, beans, sage seed, and grain amaranth, cotton cloaks and war constumes, amber and feather headdresses, such was the tribute which flowed into the capital and outwards once again to pay and supply soldiers. The Spanish were intrigued with the exactness of the system, no doubt wondering how to use it for themselves LOL!
Although not much of the poetry or songs were presented in the book there were a few short pieces included. Who can deny the sweetness of the following pieces........
The battlefield is the place:
where one toasts the divine liquor in war,
where are stained red the divine eagles,
where the tigers howl,
where all kinds of precious stones rain from ornaments,
where brave headdresses rich with fine plumes,
where princes are smashed to bits.
----- and -----
There is nothing like death in war,
nothing like the flowery death
so precious to Him who gives life:
far off I see it: my heart yearns for it!
---- then on attributed to a King Nezahualcoyotl of Texcoco
Even jade is shattered,
Even gold is crushed,
Even quetzal plumes are torn ......
One does not live forever on this earth:
We endure only for an instant!
Wow, such finality in thought and such passion for the joys of battle and death! Makes me want to find some translations of Nahuatl songs that still exist and revel in their thoughts about life and death, devotion and sacrifice. Lofty topics indeed!
Well that is a decent overview of that period, of course the Spanish came and wiped the Aztecs out. Now I know there are alot of people who want to blame the "white man" for destroying Indian civilization but to tell the truth, the Indians were quite capable, and did repeatedly, wipe out civilization after civilization on their own. The Spanish were simply another link in the chain of conquests which had been going on in this area for 2000 years or more. So to hell with the naysayers and whiners for the Aztecs themselves understood full well that the fruits of victory go to the strongest. Only this time it wasn't them.
January 17, 2011
In this book, Coe traces the pre-Spanish archaeological history of Mexico.
The centerpiece of the earlier (pre-300 CE) Mesoamerican civilizations were "elite centers" consisting of rulers and "priestly hierarchies" supported by "the great mass of the people in hamlets and villages scattered through the countryside....to build and maintain the temples and palaces and for food to support the non-farming specialists, whether kings, priests, or artisans." During the classic period (300-900 CE), nature-worship was expressed through a pantheon of deities (rain god, water goddess, sun god "and, most significantly, the Feathered Serpent,.. known as Quetzalcoatl." Coe notes that missing from this group were "war gods" that became prominent in the "more militaristic" post classic period (900-1500 CE). In this latter period, Coe reasons that drought and starvation likely pushed the primitive Desert Culture tribes (Chichimecs) from the north whose mode of existence they "shared with desert-living Indians as far north as Oregon." The Aztecs were part of this movement south and arrived unwelcome to the Valley of Mexico in the 1300s where they rose to completely dominate much of Mexico over the next 200 years. The Aztecs saw themselves as a chosen people whose primary deity, Huitzilopochtli, needed the sacrifice of captives "to keep the sun moving across the sky". Their celibate clergy, with blood-mattered hair, "smelling of death and putrefaction" conducted the sacrifices. Among the Aztec practices was the mass sacrifice of small children "to bring rain at the end of the dry season in propitiation of Tlaloc [the rain god]."
This is an excellent and informative book.
The centerpiece of the earlier (pre-300 CE) Mesoamerican civilizations were "elite centers" consisting of rulers and "priestly hierarchies" supported by "the great mass of the people in hamlets and villages scattered through the countryside....to build and maintain the temples and palaces and for food to support the non-farming specialists, whether kings, priests, or artisans." During the classic period (300-900 CE), nature-worship was expressed through a pantheon of deities (rain god, water goddess, sun god "and, most significantly, the Feathered Serpent,.. known as Quetzalcoatl." Coe notes that missing from this group were "war gods" that became prominent in the "more militaristic" post classic period (900-1500 CE). In this latter period, Coe reasons that drought and starvation likely pushed the primitive Desert Culture tribes (Chichimecs) from the north whose mode of existence they "shared with desert-living Indians as far north as Oregon." The Aztecs were part of this movement south and arrived unwelcome to the Valley of Mexico in the 1300s where they rose to completely dominate much of Mexico over the next 200 years. The Aztecs saw themselves as a chosen people whose primary deity, Huitzilopochtli, needed the sacrifice of captives "to keep the sun moving across the sky". Their celibate clergy, with blood-mattered hair, "smelling of death and putrefaction" conducted the sacrifices. Among the Aztec practices was the mass sacrifice of small children "to bring rain at the end of the dry season in propitiation of Tlaloc [the rain god]."
This is an excellent and informative book.
February 5, 2014
Coe and Koontz do a thorough--yet not exhaustive--review of the earliest civilisations in Mexico. The transition from the Toltecs to the Aztecs is somewhat brief but this is also because there is not a substantial amount of historically verifiable data surrounding it. I would say, however, that for the non-academic this book could be challenging to read as it contains quite a lot of information that is not necessarily pertinent for a casual reader. Nevertheless, the inclusion of pictures and archaeological artefacts, along with the historical information, helps solidify the chronology as is presented. I read this book for a graduate Mexican history course and was very intrigued by much of the information and details provided, which are usually not presented in a traditional and more generalised historical account of these civilisations. The epilogue (Spanish conquest) was brief, yet to the point, and provides a good foundation for readers that wish to continue chronologically to the next period of colonialism.
4 stars.
4 stars.
July 31, 2011
This is a very nice summary of the pre-Hispanic history of Mexico. Very easy to read in the sense that it's concise and interesting. It contains maps and illustrations that guide you through history from 1700 B.C. to the arrival of the Spaniards in 1519 and the later fall of the Aztec empire by 1521. This book should be read along with two extensions for the Mayan and Aztec cultures because they are so rich that this book could only explain bits of their philosophy, sciences, lifestyle, religion, etc.The Maya is also from this author who is regarded as one of the best scholar in Mayan culture.
September 13, 2008
This book was beautiful! It was incredible in that it broadened my perception of beauty and the power of art - something that I did not think was possible at the time. Before reading this book, I had absolutely no connection to Mexico's history. I discovered that it's art historical tradition is complex, multi-faceted, and thoroughly fascinating. For the prehistoric and ancient peoples of this land create art and life were inseperable.
October 4, 2024
Michael D. Coe's Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs serves as a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the ancient civilizations of Mexico, spanning from the Olmec period to the Aztec Empire. This updated edition has been praised for its readability and scholarly depth, making it suitable for both casual readers and those with a serious interest in archaeology and history.
The book is structured chronologically, providing a clear timeline of the development of various Mesoamerican cultures. Coe begins with early hunter-gatherers and transitions into more complex societies, detailing significant civilizations such as the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Toltecs, and Aztecs. Each civilization is given approximately 25 pages, enriched with illustrations that enhance understanding without overwhelming the reader.
Coe's writing is noted for being engaging and approachable, which is a significant advantage for readers new to the subject matter. The blend of iconographic detail with concise summaries allows for a thorough yet digestible exploration of complex topics. The book covers a broad spectrum of cultures and periods, providing insights into their social structures, economies, and interactions. It discusses not only the rise and fall of these civilizations but also their contributions to art, architecture, and religion.
The inclusion of numerous images helps to visualize the discussed artifacts and sites, making the historical narrative more vivid1. Despite its many strengths, some critiques have emerged regarding potential biases in perspective. Certain reviewers have noted that Coe's approach may reflect a Northern-centric viewpoint, which could influence his interpretations of Mesoamerican cultures. Additionally, while the book provides a solid overview of major civilizations, it has been mentioned that the treatment of the Maya is somewhat peripheral compared to other cultures discussed.
Overall, Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs is highly recommended for anyone interested in understanding the rich tapestry of ancient Mexican civilizations. Its combination of scholarly rigor and engaging prose makes it a valuable resource for both students and general readers alike. Whether one is looking to gain foundational knowledge or deepen existing understanding, Coe's work stands out as an essential text in Mesoamerican studies.
The book is structured chronologically, providing a clear timeline of the development of various Mesoamerican cultures. Coe begins with early hunter-gatherers and transitions into more complex societies, detailing significant civilizations such as the Olmecs, Zapotecs, Toltecs, and Aztecs. Each civilization is given approximately 25 pages, enriched with illustrations that enhance understanding without overwhelming the reader.
Coe's writing is noted for being engaging and approachable, which is a significant advantage for readers new to the subject matter. The blend of iconographic detail with concise summaries allows for a thorough yet digestible exploration of complex topics. The book covers a broad spectrum of cultures and periods, providing insights into their social structures, economies, and interactions. It discusses not only the rise and fall of these civilizations but also their contributions to art, architecture, and religion.
The inclusion of numerous images helps to visualize the discussed artifacts and sites, making the historical narrative more vivid1. Despite its many strengths, some critiques have emerged regarding potential biases in perspective. Certain reviewers have noted that Coe's approach may reflect a Northern-centric viewpoint, which could influence his interpretations of Mesoamerican cultures. Additionally, while the book provides a solid overview of major civilizations, it has been mentioned that the treatment of the Maya is somewhat peripheral compared to other cultures discussed.
Overall, Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs is highly recommended for anyone interested in understanding the rich tapestry of ancient Mexican civilizations. Its combination of scholarly rigor and engaging prose makes it a valuable resource for both students and general readers alike. Whether one is looking to gain foundational knowledge or deepen existing understanding, Coe's work stands out as an essential text in Mesoamerican studies.
September 25, 2024
Mexico is a seminal work in Mesoamerican studies, offering a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the rich history and culture of ancient Mexico. This book provides a vivid and engaging exploration of the region's pre-Columbian civilizations, from the Olmec to the Aztec.
Coe traces the development and decline of the major Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, and Aztec. He examines the factors that contributed to their rise, as well as the challenges and crises that led to their downfall. The book highlights the impressive cultural achievements of the Mesoamerican civilizations. It explores their artistic expressions, religious beliefs, scientific knowledge, and technological innovations. Coe emphasizes the sophistication and complexity of these ancient societies.
Coe analyzes the devastating impact of the Spanish conquest on the Mesoamerican civilizations. He examines the destruction of indigenous cultures, the loss of life, and the long-term consequences of colonization. Despite the destruction wrought by the Spanish, Coe demonstrates the enduring legacy of the Mesoamerican civilizations. He explores the ways in which their traditions, beliefs, and artistic expressions have influenced modern Mexican culture.
Coe's clear and engaging writing style makes Mexico accessible to a wide range of readers. The book is well-illustrated and provides a wealth of information on the archaeology, history, and culture of ancient Mexico. While the book offers a comprehensive overview of the Mesoamerican civilizations, it might be too detailed for some readers who are primarily interested in a general introduction to the topic. Additionally, some might find the frequent references to archaeological discoveries and historical debates slightly overwhelming.
Mexico is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and culture of ancient Mexico. Coe's insightful analysis and engaging writing style make this book a must-read for students, scholars, and general readers alike. While the book may not be suitable for all readers, it is a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Mesoamerican civilizations.
Coe traces the development and decline of the major Mesoamerican civilizations, including the Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, and Aztec. He examines the factors that contributed to their rise, as well as the challenges and crises that led to their downfall. The book highlights the impressive cultural achievements of the Mesoamerican civilizations. It explores their artistic expressions, religious beliefs, scientific knowledge, and technological innovations. Coe emphasizes the sophistication and complexity of these ancient societies.
Coe analyzes the devastating impact of the Spanish conquest on the Mesoamerican civilizations. He examines the destruction of indigenous cultures, the loss of life, and the long-term consequences of colonization. Despite the destruction wrought by the Spanish, Coe demonstrates the enduring legacy of the Mesoamerican civilizations. He explores the ways in which their traditions, beliefs, and artistic expressions have influenced modern Mexican culture.
Coe's clear and engaging writing style makes Mexico accessible to a wide range of readers. The book is well-illustrated and provides a wealth of information on the archaeology, history, and culture of ancient Mexico. While the book offers a comprehensive overview of the Mesoamerican civilizations, it might be too detailed for some readers who are primarily interested in a general introduction to the topic. Additionally, some might find the frequent references to archaeological discoveries and historical debates slightly overwhelming.
Mexico is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history and culture of ancient Mexico. Coe's insightful analysis and engaging writing style make this book a must-read for students, scholars, and general readers alike. While the book may not be suitable for all readers, it is a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Mesoamerican civilizations.
July 20, 2024
Mexico: From the Olmecs to the Aztecs introduces the most important pre-Columbian civilizations of present-day Mexico. The book is organised by region, providing a chronological overview of societal and cultural developments in Mexico from the arrival of the first humans until colonial times. The book is informatively written, and I found the archaeology, of which I didn't know a great deal beforehand, to be incredibly fascinating reading. The book is not organised very well, though. The combination of organising the book as a whole chronologically while organising each chapter by region creates a very disjointed reading experience for people less familiar with the archaeology of the region. In my opinion, it would have been better to have one chapter per civilisation, giving each culture a proper introduction and discussion before moving on to the next. As it is, each civilisation (with the exception of the Aztecs) is spread over multiple chapters, making it difficult for the reader to separate each culture from those around it. The format provides a great overview of the overall societal development of Mexico over time, but it comes at the expense of clearly conveying the distinctiveness of the individual cultures.
September 22, 2017
A few weeks ago I realized that I knew more about the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians and others civilizations of the eastern part of the world than about the pre-Columbian cultures of my own continent. So I picked the Michael D. Coe book. It contains only general information, so is the right one if you want a panoramic view or a first approximation to those people. You won´t find any particular point treated to any significant depth but still it´ll fill you up of wonder at what these cultures achieved without the wheel, or any great mathematic knowledge, or any noteworthy grasp of astronomy.
The wheel topic is a mystery, though, because they had wheeled toys!
Other important thing is that in this book the author doesn’t include the Maya civilization. That’s the subject of another whole book. My next one.
Good writing, good pictographic material. The author takes you from the very beginnings of the first men in America through a chronological narrative, from one culture to the next, to give you a sense of how the development of history went, up to the Spaniards arrival, in the entire Mesoamerican country.
The wheel topic is a mystery, though, because they had wheeled toys!
Other important thing is that in this book the author doesn’t include the Maya civilization. That’s the subject of another whole book. My next one.
Good writing, good pictographic material. The author takes you from the very beginnings of the first men in America through a chronological narrative, from one culture to the next, to give you a sense of how the development of history went, up to the Spaniards arrival, in the entire Mesoamerican country.
July 26, 2019
An excellent overview of most of the major civilizations of pre-Columbian Mexico, at least those north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. (The Maya are covered in a separate volume.)
While Michael Coe has written more academic volumes, this one is definitely accessible to general readers. It covers the major sites, the periods when each civilization flourished, and their relationships to each other. Even if you are simply traveling to Mexico as a tourist and only plan on spending a day or two visiting some of the country's archaeological sites, this book isn't a major commitment. It is under 250 pages and before you are done, you'll understand at least broadly the most important aspects of the Aztec (Mexica), Mixtec, Olmec, Tarascan, Toltec, Zapotec, and other cultures.
While Michael Coe has written more academic volumes, this one is definitely accessible to general readers. It covers the major sites, the periods when each civilization flourished, and their relationships to each other. Even if you are simply traveling to Mexico as a tourist and only plan on spending a day or two visiting some of the country's archaeological sites, this book isn't a major commitment. It is under 250 pages and before you are done, you'll understand at least broadly the most important aspects of the Aztec (Mexica), Mixtec, Olmec, Tarascan, Toltec, Zapotec, and other cultures.
August 15, 2025
This is a great introduction to Mesoamerican civilizations of central and south Mexico (excluding the Maya). The book covers a huge timespan from early hunter/gatherers till the fall of the Aztec empire. Even having been raised and educated in Mexico, I found much to learn in this book. And to top it all off, the book includes amazing pictures and illustrations depicting different Mesoamerican cities and art. I highly recommend it to anyone wishing to learn about such cultures as the Olmecs, the Toltecs, and the Aztecs, though this book briefly covers many more civilizations.
March 11, 2023
A well-crafted overview of Mesoamerican history, sites, and artifacts. I personally found the sparseness of theological, cultural, and iconographical content made it feel bare and lifeless—but that’s likely exacerbated because I brought expectations on this book to be like the vibrant class I took from Prof. Allen Christenson while in college (a truly high bar). I appreciate this book as a springboard back into this persistent interest, and have happily scoured its further reading suggestions!
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January 12, 2025Written by men who love their study and love words, they paint a mist-shrouded land stalked by eagles and jaguars and men in eagle and jaguar feet. I have no opinion from a pedagogical standpoint, I liked the dogs and owls in the underworld, and the three dead foreigners sitting at the summit, hands unbound.
August 13, 2018
Super readable and loved how the illustrations/picture were numbered and then referred to explicitly in the margins. That being said, te beginning is a bit dull, and there’s some signs this is an old book — the phrase “a black” is used at one point near the end, which is... not great.
September 21, 2017
Like the blurb, the book is written in an amateurish style full of superlatives and shallow on information.
January 26, 2018
Mexican history up to the Spanish conquest (excluding the Mayans). Lots of pictures and maps. The writing wasn't compelling, but was clear. A good historical overview.
February 18, 2018
*still reading just dont feel like keeping track since it's a college textbook*
March 22, 2019
Interesting material, poorly written.
May 20, 2019
Overall, this is a compact and informative overview of early Mexican history. Too often, it drifts into a history of archaeological debates, which I found to be tedious.
June 18, 2019
Excellent book on pre-Conquest Mesoamerican history.
October 13, 2019
Some interesting stuff. Some obvious axes being ground in places.
October 28, 2021
Archeological history of the civilizations who lived in the Mexico valley.
November 8, 2022
I read first 2/3 of book. So much detail of so many places. I learned a lot, but skimmed details once it got to the 1100s or so.
February 17, 2023
Great color plates, designed well and a good resource. Dense reading, but a good broad reference.
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