ebooks Major Problems in American Indian History (Major Problems in American History Series) by Albert Hurtado; Peter Iverson; Willy Bauer; Stephen Amerman in History

Description

At Home with the Aztecs provides a fresh view of Aztec society; focusing on households and communities instead of kings; pyramids; and human sacrifice. This new approach offers an opportunity to humanize the Aztecs; moving past the popular stereotype of sacrificial maniacs to demonstrate that these were successful and prosperous communities. Michael Smith also engagingly describes the scientific; logistic and personal dimensions of archaeological fieldwork; drawing on decades of excavating experience and considering how his research was affected by his interaction with contemporary Mexican communities. Through first-hand accounts of the ways archaeologists interpret sites and artifacts; the book illuminates how the archaeological process can provide information about ancient families. Facilitating a richer understanding of the Aztec world; Smith’s research also redefines success; prosperity and resilience in ancient societies; making this book suitable not only for those interested in the Aztecs but in the examination of complex societies in general.