The Aztecs: Rise and Fall of an Empire

by Serge Gruzinski, Paul G. Bahn (Translator)

Explores the complex aspects of the ancient Aztec civilization, its artistic and cultural achievements, its bloody religion, and its history--from earliest times to its collapse with the arrival of the Spanish in the New World. Original.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Reference

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

born in Tourcoing in 1949, studied at the Ecole des Chartres from 1969 to 1973 and received his diploma there as an archivist and paleographer. During the following eleven years, within the framework of various research projects, Gruzinski traveled to a number of Mediterranean countries as well as North and South America. The precolonial history of Mexico was to become one of his major focuses. In 1985 he published his first book, Les Hommes-dieux du Mexique, now also available in Italian, Spanish, and English translations. In 1991 and 1993 the two volumes of his treatise La Découverte du Nouveau Monde appeared and in 1991 the book L’Amérique de la découverte peinte par les Indiens du Mexique described the aesthetic encounter between pre-Columbian art and the European Renaissance. Serge Gruzinski is a research director at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and the assistant director of the Center of Research on Mexico, Central America and the Andes

Reviews

[Lewis Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being a rather small book, I really enjoyed how many areas of Aztec culture it captured, including folklore and myths/stories alongside concrete facts and events.

My only disappointment was the “fall” part of the title isn’t well documented- the Spanish/Aztec war only receives a few pages within the entire book, with much more pages being allocated to the Aztec culture and the effects after the war. I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more focus on HOW the Aztec civilisation fell to the Spanish.

Despite that though, a great thorough read in such a small book!

[Ricardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro pequeño (de bolsillo), bellamente ilustrado y redactado de manera muy amable por el gran historiador francés SG. Se remonta hasta la cultura tolteca para trazar los orígenes de los mexicas, su forma de organización política y social, y el destino que le tocó en suerte a su nobleza y campesinado a partir del siglo XVI. Al final incluye una interesante selección de fuentes históricas y estudios recientes. Lectura ideal previa a un viaje al altiplano central, para el que no necesita profundizar demasiado.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

239 - 2018

[Dominic Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Project Latin America #29 - Mexico

[Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pas inintéressant mais trop daté par endroits, mais c'est souvent le cas de cette collection des années 80, par ailleurs au thermocollage délicat.

[Mathilde Asuka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book with great information. Honestly perfect to read when you're waiting for your surgery 👌

[Tiffany Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while my students were doing research in the library. It like it because it is pocket size. I like the idea of tucking away the history of the rise and fall of a great civilization in your coat pocket. Also, it has a ton of great primary source material in the back of the book.

[Ginny Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.

[Mike Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want a concise rundown on the Aztec's culture and the Spanish conquest.. this is for you.

[Matthew Murawski]

Mostly picked up for the illustrations (which are great!)