Synopses & Reviews
This book gives a comprehensive, authoritative overview of the history of all the important native civilizations of Mesoamerica.
Synopsis
An authoritative and comprehensive overview of central America. Part 1 of this substantial volume surveys Mesoamerica during the prehistoric period. Part 2 continues the story through the Spanish invasion and independence. Drawing on archaeological, anthropological and historical evidence, the papers seek to present the cultural institutions' of communities across Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, including the Aztec and Maya civilisations.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to a survey of the native prehistoric cultures of Mesoamerica Richard E. W. Adams; 2. The Paleoindian and Archaic cultures of Mesoamerica Robert N. Zeitlin and Judith Francis Zeitlin; 3. The preclassic societies of the central highlands of Mesoamerica David C. Grove; 4. The precolumbian cultures of the Gulf Coast Richard A. Diehl; 5. The Maya lowlands: pioneer farmers to merchant princes Norman Hammond; 6. The central American highlands from the rise of Teotihuacan to the decline of Tula George L. Cowgill; 7. Western and Northwestern Mexico Shirley S. Gorenstein; 8. Cultural evolution in Oaxaca: the origins of the Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations Joyce Marcus and Kent V. Flannery; 9. The southeast frontiers of Mesoamerica Payson D. Sheets; 10. The Maya highlands and the adjacent Pacific coast Robert J. Sharer; 11. The Aztecs and their contemporaries: the Central and Eastern Mexican highlands Thomas H. Charlton; 12. Mesoamerica since the Spanish invasion: an overview Murdo J. MacLeod; 13. Legacies of resistance, adaptation, and tenacity: history of the native peoples of Northwest Mexico Susan M. Deeds; 14. The native peoples of Northeastern Mexico David Frye; 15. The indigenous peoples of Western Mexico from the Spanish invasion to the present Eric Van Young; 16. Native peoples of colonial Central Mexico Sarah L. Cline; 17. Native peoples of Central Mexico since independence Frans J. Schryer; 18. Native peoples of the Gulf Coast from the colonial period to the present Susan Deans-Smith; 19. The indigenous population of Oaxaca from the sixteenth century to the present María de los Angeles Romero Frizzi; 20. The Lowland Maya, from the conquest to the present Grant D. Jones; 21. The Highland Maya W. George Lovell.