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Warlords of Ancient Mexico: How the Mayans and Aztecs Ruled for More Than a Thousand Years
Learn the unbelievable true history of the great warrior tribes of Mexico. More than 13 centuries of incredible spellbinding history are detailed in this intriguing study of the rulers and warriors of Mexico. Dozens of these charismatic leaders of nations and armies are brought to life by the deep research and entertaining storytelling of Peter Tsouras. Tsouras introduces the reader to the colossal personalities of the Smoking Frog, the Mexican Machiavelli, the Poet Warlord, the Lion of Anahuac, and others... all of them warlords who shaped one of the most significant regions in world history, men who influenced the civilization of half a continent. The warlords of Mexico, for all their fascinating lives and momentous acts, have been largely ignored by writers and historians, but here that disappointing record is put right by a range of detailed biographies that entertain as they inform. Students of the area, historians working in American history, and long-term visitors and tourists to the region will gain a much clearer understanding of the background history of these territories and the men who formed and reformed them.
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First published September 2, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 24, 2019
‘A few hardy conquerors have overthrown kingdoms. Fewer still have overthrown empires—men like Cyrus, Alexander, and Genghis Khan. However, history records only one empire destroyed by a man 500 years in the grave. Such was Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl (Our Lord the Feathered Serpent), the first recognisable personality in ancient Mexican history.
The reality of Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl is dimmed through layers of compounded history and legend. The destruction of the Indian books and the massive die-off of the knowledge keepers from disease only deepened the confusion. One thing is certain. For the Indians of Central Mexico, his achievements were of such a stupendous nature as to make him the progenitor of a golden age of men, a time of greatness. The centre of this Eden was the city of great Tollan and its people the Toltecs. The very name Toltec came to signify perfection in all creative things—the exquisite gem, the supreme artist, and the finest poetry.
...The peoples of Central Mexico believed the Quetzalcoatl legend was history as firmly as the Classical Greeks believed in the historicity of Homer’s Iliad. As with the Iliad, trying to sift out the real nuggets of historical information from the embellishments of time is an eternal puzzle. Yet, some shape of the man and his times can be worried out of the tangle...’
‘The reign of Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl was the great event in the pre-Conquest history of Mexico that set the pattern for all else to follow. H. B. Nicholson described it:
‘His role during this period seems to have been a familiar double one, sacerdotal-secular. It is very likely that he was an important religious innovator, who introduced significant new auto-sacrificial rites and attempted to advance the cult of an older creator-fertility god symbolized by the feathered serpent, whose name he seems to have adopted as a title. In addition, he apparently operated as a patron of the arts and crafts and certain intellectual activities, particularly calendric. Although the central Mexican core group [of histories] does not usually stress this and no formal lists of conquest after his ascension are given . . .he undoubtedly made efforts to build up the political power of his capital, for his role as political legitimizer is so strongly stressed in so many sources. In short, he seems, like Harun-al-Rashid, to have ruled at a time of great prosperity and cultural and political growth, a “golden age,” and to have been given a great deal of credit for it.’6
And golden it was in the memories of the peoples that followed. Quetzalcoatl’s vassals, according to the best of the surviving sources, were supreme artisans in all manner of skills such as the working of precious stones, gold-smithing, and featherwork. Together with ‘Wisdom,’ all these wondrous crafts began with Quetzalcoatl. He built palaces of jade, gold, red shell, white shell, wooden beams, turquoise, and lustrous green quetzal feathers. His people were also rich beyond measure. The yield of the earth grew to enormous sizes and in rich variation. Squashes were enormous, maize ears as big as the manos that ground the kernels, and amaranth bushes so big they could be climbed like trees. Cotton yielded itself not just in simple white but rivalled the rainbow in its natural colours of red, yellow, rose, violet, blue-green, blue, green, orange, brown, grey, dark yellow, and tawny. The land abounded in priceless birds of brilliant plumage as well as sweet-singing songbirds. Cacao grew copiously and in an array of colours. The people were loaded down with their gold and jade. Scarcity and famine had been banished from the land and the memory of man.
Archaeology supports the memory of great prosperity and cultural achievement that spread its influence and commerce further than that of fabled Teotihuacán, as far as Costa Rica and Nicaragua and the pueblos of the Anasazi in the American south-west. ‘A sizeable number of artisans supported a variety of handicraft workshops as witnessed in the variety of wares found throughout the site, including pulque cups, braziers, censers, bowls, cylinder jars, jewelry.’7 There were comparable skills lavished in the treatment and fine embellishment of its monumental architecture. ‘Toltec architecture acquired new contrasts and patterns, becoming one of the finest expressions of artistic integration among America’s Indian cultures.’8
So great were the artistic and creative powers of the Toltecs in the memories of their successors that their very name became synonymous with excellence. The name Toltec or Toltecatl referred to a ‘refined person who had great knowledge and artistic abilities.’ The term ‘Toltecayotl’ came to mean ‘wonderful artist.’ The name of the city itself, Tollan, became synonymous with ‘great city,’ ‘a place of abundant culture’ or ‘an authoritative centre of cultural order.’ “
The reality of Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl is dimmed through layers of compounded history and legend. The destruction of the Indian books and the massive die-off of the knowledge keepers from disease only deepened the confusion. One thing is certain. For the Indians of Central Mexico, his achievements were of such a stupendous nature as to make him the progenitor of a golden age of men, a time of greatness. The centre of this Eden was the city of great Tollan and its people the Toltecs. The very name Toltec came to signify perfection in all creative things—the exquisite gem, the supreme artist, and the finest poetry.
...The peoples of Central Mexico believed the Quetzalcoatl legend was history as firmly as the Classical Greeks believed in the historicity of Homer’s Iliad. As with the Iliad, trying to sift out the real nuggets of historical information from the embellishments of time is an eternal puzzle. Yet, some shape of the man and his times can be worried out of the tangle...’
‘The reign of Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl was the great event in the pre-Conquest history of Mexico that set the pattern for all else to follow. H. B. Nicholson described it:
‘His role during this period seems to have been a familiar double one, sacerdotal-secular. It is very likely that he was an important religious innovator, who introduced significant new auto-sacrificial rites and attempted to advance the cult of an older creator-fertility god symbolized by the feathered serpent, whose name he seems to have adopted as a title. In addition, he apparently operated as a patron of the arts and crafts and certain intellectual activities, particularly calendric. Although the central Mexican core group [of histories] does not usually stress this and no formal lists of conquest after his ascension are given . . .he undoubtedly made efforts to build up the political power of his capital, for his role as political legitimizer is so strongly stressed in so many sources. In short, he seems, like Harun-al-Rashid, to have ruled at a time of great prosperity and cultural and political growth, a “golden age,” and to have been given a great deal of credit for it.’6
And golden it was in the memories of the peoples that followed. Quetzalcoatl’s vassals, according to the best of the surviving sources, were supreme artisans in all manner of skills such as the working of precious stones, gold-smithing, and featherwork. Together with ‘Wisdom,’ all these wondrous crafts began with Quetzalcoatl. He built palaces of jade, gold, red shell, white shell, wooden beams, turquoise, and lustrous green quetzal feathers. His people were also rich beyond measure. The yield of the earth grew to enormous sizes and in rich variation. Squashes were enormous, maize ears as big as the manos that ground the kernels, and amaranth bushes so big they could be climbed like trees. Cotton yielded itself not just in simple white but rivalled the rainbow in its natural colours of red, yellow, rose, violet, blue-green, blue, green, orange, brown, grey, dark yellow, and tawny. The land abounded in priceless birds of brilliant plumage as well as sweet-singing songbirds. Cacao grew copiously and in an array of colours. The people were loaded down with their gold and jade. Scarcity and famine had been banished from the land and the memory of man.
Archaeology supports the memory of great prosperity and cultural achievement that spread its influence and commerce further than that of fabled Teotihuacán, as far as Costa Rica and Nicaragua and the pueblos of the Anasazi in the American south-west. ‘A sizeable number of artisans supported a variety of handicraft workshops as witnessed in the variety of wares found throughout the site, including pulque cups, braziers, censers, bowls, cylinder jars, jewelry.’7 There were comparable skills lavished in the treatment and fine embellishment of its monumental architecture. ‘Toltec architecture acquired new contrasts and patterns, becoming one of the finest expressions of artistic integration among America’s Indian cultures.’8
So great were the artistic and creative powers of the Toltecs in the memories of their successors that their very name became synonymous with excellence. The name Toltec or Toltecatl referred to a ‘refined person who had great knowledge and artistic abilities.’ The term ‘Toltecayotl’ came to mean ‘wonderful artist.’ The name of the city itself, Tollan, became synonymous with ‘great city,’ ‘a place of abundant culture’ or ‘an authoritative centre of cultural order.’ “
July 27, 2018
I tend to like the books which are accessible and yet take us into mostly unexplored worlds. This one was definitely of that kind -- of the names I knew before that of Hernan Cortes stands out, and even he was only an intruder into this story. Montezuma is the other name that some people have heard, but Mr Tsouras uses not this but a different spelling option, trying to get rid of the bias we have so often pushed onto our understanding of the Mexican region.
This brings me to one of my most appreciated aspects of this book -- the author tries time and time again to refer to things and to describe things, insofar as it is possible, within the framework that the people who lived there could have understood. Even if this sense of revisionism has come about quite late, I think it is welcome, and especially so in the attempt to understand civilizations so far apart from what we now take for granted.
The other good methodologies I appreciated were the author's tries to include theories which could sound crazy, but for the time and place might be possible. The written history that this region has given us leaves far more to be guessed than known, and therefore theories which expound on these are welcome.
Overall, this is a perfect introduction into a history of the region which leaves one not only wanting more but also at a relatively good position to look for more from.
Originally posted here.
This brings me to one of my most appreciated aspects of this book -- the author tries time and time again to refer to things and to describe things, insofar as it is possible, within the framework that the people who lived there could have understood. Even if this sense of revisionism has come about quite late, I think it is welcome, and especially so in the attempt to understand civilizations so far apart from what we now take for granted.
The other good methodologies I appreciated were the author's tries to include theories which could sound crazy, but for the time and place might be possible. The written history that this region has given us leaves far more to be guessed than known, and therefore theories which expound on these are welcome.
Overall, this is a perfect introduction into a history of the region which leaves one not only wanting more but also at a relatively good position to look for more from.
Originally posted here.
August 3, 2016
Ferocious and brave
A great book for someone who is a beginner like me about mesoamerica better than any novel I could not put it down !! Never realized the bravery mixed with ferocity of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans
A great book for someone who is a beginner like me about mesoamerica better than any novel I could not put it down !! Never realized the bravery mixed with ferocity of the ancient Aztecs and Mayans
April 16, 2017
Loved the author's style - short and informative, even humorous enough to entertain. He relies heavily and maybe even exclusively on Diego Duran, so of course for a deeper research one must read more sources, preferably primary, but for a quick overview I would recommend this work wholeheartedly!
April 11, 2019
Loved it.
Cinematic and full, there’s NO WAY much of this can be taken for historical fact. But who cares! An exciting, accessible story of the valley of Mexico.
Cinematic and full, there’s NO WAY much of this can be taken for historical fact. But who cares! An exciting, accessible story of the valley of Mexico.
June 16, 2021
Warlords of Ancient Mexico: How the Mayans and Aztecs Ruled for More Than a Thousand Years by Peter Tsouras is a book that elevates the political and military history of the Mexican heartland, while remaining tied to, perhaps uncritically, a historical paradigm that has been out of date in gentile Mesoamerican studies. It is a bit ironic that I developed more appreciation for the account of the Spanish than I had prior to reading this book, because there is a great deal that appears authentic, even if a bit exaggerated. The historical characters examined and the complex military and political relationships on display in the text are believable, and there are ready parallels. Tsouras, being a military historian of a different coat, finds parallels that are a bit obvious, but there were quite a few things that he didn't reference that I thought were pretty close to other things that I've studied.
That said, I do think he was too credulous, and seemed to revel in the gore of human sacrifice. There are, of course, revisionists that seem to discredit the idea completely, but this makes little sense given the archeological evidence, and given that we are well aware of human sacrifice practiced by other civilizations. Even Europe and Mesopotamian cultures had its fair share of these practices until they were phased out. Still, I'm not sure I buy just how excessive it seemed to be in some circumstances. This book also doesn't have a lot to say about the Mayans. They get some references, but it is made rather clear that the Mayans were far off, and entered in the book after its first few pages only as a distant source of conquest, one that arguably broke the Aztec empire. Furthermore, Cortez also seems to come across rather suspiciously portrayed as well.
I'd recommend that people who read, or want to read, this book take a look at Edwin Barnhart's Maya to Aztec lecture series. It is a bit long, but it will also be well worth it. Tsouras revels a bit too much in what may well be myth, while Barnhart is a sober-minded academic that provides a far more expansive and measured look at the area. In particular, his series is useful for its look at far beyond military and political history. You can find the series on audible, and I recommend it very highly.
81/100
That said, I do think he was too credulous, and seemed to revel in the gore of human sacrifice. There are, of course, revisionists that seem to discredit the idea completely, but this makes little sense given the archeological evidence, and given that we are well aware of human sacrifice practiced by other civilizations. Even Europe and Mesopotamian cultures had its fair share of these practices until they were phased out. Still, I'm not sure I buy just how excessive it seemed to be in some circumstances. This book also doesn't have a lot to say about the Mayans. They get some references, but it is made rather clear that the Mayans were far off, and entered in the book after its first few pages only as a distant source of conquest, one that arguably broke the Aztec empire. Furthermore, Cortez also seems to come across rather suspiciously portrayed as well.
I'd recommend that people who read, or want to read, this book take a look at Edwin Barnhart's Maya to Aztec lecture series. It is a bit long, but it will also be well worth it. Tsouras revels a bit too much in what may well be myth, while Barnhart is a sober-minded academic that provides a far more expansive and measured look at the area. In particular, his series is useful for its look at far beyond military and political history. You can find the series on audible, and I recommend it very highly.
81/100
May 27, 2019
Thorough account of the Mexica rise and fall.
It’s a fascinating history of the Mexica/Aztec Empire from its origins to the downfall at the hands of Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors. The Empire was so alien to us in its savage religion which was based on human sacrifice of an extent that Western people find it difficult to grasp. The series of generally successful wars against the neighbouring city states is tribute to the quality of the Aztec monarchy. One criticism is that the Maya history is largely neglected to the point that the book’s title is somewhat misleading.
It’s a fascinating history of the Mexica/Aztec Empire from its origins to the downfall at the hands of Cortes and the Spanish conquistadors. The Empire was so alien to us in its savage religion which was based on human sacrifice of an extent that Western people find it difficult to grasp. The series of generally successful wars against the neighbouring city states is tribute to the quality of the Aztec monarchy. One criticism is that the Maya history is largely neglected to the point that the book’s title is somewhat misleading.
April 22, 2021
Very well done, and one of the few books I've read that felt like it was focused on the Mayan/Aztec POV rather than the Spanish.
October 26, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this and found it fascinating it is well written and full of information.
September 1, 2021
This book was frustrating. The author spends too much effort to compare the figures of the cultures with Greeks and Romans.
November 18, 2020
Interesting, even if I had a hard time keeping the names straight.
September 12, 2020
A captivating story of Mesoamerica focusing on the Aztecs and the Triple Alliance, providing an overview to the spectacular rise and empire of what is now Mexico city. From the spectacular engineering and architecture, the complex politics, the brutal yet sophisticated war and sacrifice (including a four day long mass sacrifice that stunk out the city and poisoned the water for months with all the bodies), to the descriptions of the Eagle Warriors and the tragic fall to the Spanish.
It was a small consolation for having plans of seeing Mexico and the Mexican people this year (thanks COVID) but it nevertheless piqued interest in learning more.
It was a small consolation for having plans of seeing Mexico and the Mexican people this year (thanks COVID) but it nevertheless piqued interest in learning more.
October 2, 2022
Ganska exakt vad jag förväntade mig. En genomgång av div ledare och deras dåd, inklusive deras etablerande av dödskulterna. Beskrivningen är hemsk, och i princip bara jämförlig med mongolernas huvudpyramider och 1900-talets vansinnesideologier. Om man är lagd åt galghumor kan man konstatera en viss brådmogenhet - Aztekerna använde mänskligt skinn som kläder 600 år innan man försökte göra det till lampor i Europa. Och till skillnad från de mesiga tyskarna som gav upp när man konstaterade att materialet inte fungerade så bra, såg man till att skaffa nya mänskliga skinn efter de 20 dagar då det ruttnat bort. Kulturchocken gör att andra delar av materialet störs ut.
October 29, 2022
mesoamerica is an independent society-building experiment leading to unique social orders and many familiar behaviors and solutions. the overall level of their development was probably on par with the Assyrians and Sumerians. They had neighbors using metal weapons whom they could not conquer. Culturally they had a warrior-centered cult that helped them build an impressive empire. If you have time to think what kind of societies you can find on other planets - read this book. it's better than any fiction. Complex systems, such as life and societies, are much more interesting, diverse, and unpredictable
May 31, 2018
In school, we learn a lot about the wars of ancient Rome and Greece, but very little about one of the bloodiest eras - Mexico in the 15th-16th centuries. Comparisons can be made to famous military leaders like Napoleon or Alexander the Great, but even they can't rival the blood lust of the Mexica. Despite the gruesome topic, the author has created a compelling story, at times as much a page turner as any fictional thriller. You'll have to put up with a lot of unfamiliar and similar- sounding names, but it's worth it to learn about this under- represented period of history.
August 23, 2018
This book seems to me a meticulously researched work. How so much could have been gleaned from the markings on stellae is beyond me. But I found it a very difficult read to stick with as the long list of nearly unpronounceable names (Huehuetocan, Mixcoatl-Camaxtli, Itzpapolotl) eventually wore me down and I did not finish the book. I am bilingual, fluent in Spanish and went to grade school in Mexico, so some of this history and the names are not unfamiliar me. Still, I could not stick with it. It may be a good book for serious anthropologists or other academics interested in the history.
August 25, 2019
It was fascinating and dramatic, but each chapter was much too long and detailed. With the similarity of names and tactics, they all blurred in my mind, except those who experienced the Spanish invasion. Those who ere most distinctive deserve the full treatment, while more minor characters should be grouped in chapters. The author should explain trends of change over time. The book should include a timeline to help you keep track of each of the individuals and their kingdoms. I could not clearly see maps or illustrations in the ebook.
December 18, 2021
I appreciated the author's enthusiasm for his subject, which was reflected in his able comparisons of the unknown Mayan warlords to famous European figures, sometimes from the same era.
But now to the bad. We tried listening to this book, and ultimately gave up. There were just too many names that we weren't able to follow along. I'm sure it would have been a bit better in print, but I'm also sure that some changes to the way the history was presented could have helped as well.
But now to the bad. We tried listening to this book, and ultimately gave up. There were just too many names that we weren't able to follow along. I'm sure it would have been a bit better in print, but I'm also sure that some changes to the way the history was presented could have helped as well.
February 17, 2023
Via Audible.
An insightful history of ancient Mexico, culminating in the bitter defeat of the Aztecs to the Spanish Conquistadors. Makes for sad reading towards the end and begs the great 'what if', the Aztecs had a capable and brave leader when they met the invaders. Would it all still have been for nothing?
Side note. I love a good narrator and will usually search for other books they have narrated, Paul Christy is now one of my favourite narrators.
An insightful history of ancient Mexico, culminating in the bitter defeat of the Aztecs to the Spanish Conquistadors. Makes for sad reading towards the end and begs the great 'what if', the Aztecs had a capable and brave leader when they met the invaders. Would it all still have been for nothing?
Side note. I love a good narrator and will usually search for other books they have narrated, Paul Christy is now one of my favourite narrators.
March 29, 2024
Gives solid top down view of Meso-America, and really hits its stride in the last 3rd of the book when it focuses into just the rules of Tenochtitlan, and its discussion of ancient Tula/Tollan comparing to Europe's view of ancient Rome was an interesting perspective. Keeping track of places and names was difficult as is to be expected, but I was still able to follow along coming in with my surface level knowledge
February 28, 2022
I will admit I both listened to this book and didn’t manage to finish, given how complicated the names are and the amount of times a name or place was mentioned it just felt like static. ‘And so …. And …. Coming from …. With …. In tow marched towards …. Where …. From …. And his brother …. Of ….’
You get the picture.
You get the picture.
April 23, 2021
This is a book I'll have to read again. I would love to hear more about the sources for this book. It was very interesting. There was so many things I didn't know or forgot about the Aztec.
May 25, 2021
Interesting. Although I listened to this through the Audible plus catalog for free and the narrator made it hard to enjoy. I recommend reading it on your own if interested.
September 8, 2021
Confusing, hard to follow and not super reliable
I found this a hard read, and didn't give me a lot of information
It made me feel I need to find another book on this topic
I don't recommend it
I found this a hard read, and didn't give me a lot of information
It made me feel I need to find another book on this topic
I don't recommend it
Read
September 16, 2021Didn't really enjoy the way to describe topics, I would prefer something with more civilization details.
December 12, 2021
I don’t have a good reason I didn’t like this book more. It has everything I like. But I just couldn’t get into it.
December 22, 2022
Great book to read!
January 28, 2023
£#©€ Audible for making have a current subscription to keep.reading this amazing work.
February 11, 2023
Older history
This is an older history of the period and there are some updated interpretations to be read. Recommend you don't stop here and explore more history of this period.
This is an older history of the period and there are some updated interpretations to be read. Recommend you don't stop here and explore more history of this period.
February 27, 2023
Good one-book read on the history of Central America. Interesting to learn the non-European perspective on colonisation
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews