At an excavation of the Great Aztec Temple in Mexico City; amid carvings of skulls and a dismembered warrior goddess; David Carrasco stood before a container filled with the decorated bones of infants and children. It was the site of a massive human sacrifice; and for Carrasco the center of fiercely provocative questions: If ritual violence against humans was a profound necessity for the Aztecs in their capital city; is it central to the construction of social order and the authority of city states? Is civilization built on violence?In City of Sacrifice;Carrasco chronicles the fascinating story of Tenochtitlan; the Aztec capital; investigating Aztec religious practices and demonstrating that religious violence was integral to urbanization; the city itself was a temple to the gods. That Mexico City; the largest city on earth; was built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan; is a point Carrasco poignantly considers in his comparison of urban life from antiquity to modernity.Majestic in scope; City of Sacrifice illuminates not only the rich history of a major Meso american city but also the inseparability of two passionate human impulses: urbanization and religious engagement. It has much to tell us about many familiar events in our own time; from suicide bombings in Tel Aviv to rape and murder in the Balkans.
#2601261 in Books Beacon Press 2010-06-29 2010-06-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.30 x .95 x 6.27l; 1.20 #File Name: 0807000590256 pages
Review
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Nobody Turn Me AroundBy Fred T."We want to keep our customs;" "We want our Country Back;" "Give us time;" on and on. As part of my prep for the 47th March on Washington I have been reviewing books; videos; etc. from the past to be reaquainted Why the March was necessary....in the first place??? Charles Euchner does an outstanding job in weaving an event that many know about; but in a way to bring those known and unknown into life; as if you're sitting in the room with the interviewer. The book is current and he does a great job to place you in the planning phases of the march as well as the behind the scene debates and issues that have not been communicated before. Most have seen Dr. King's speech but there were many; many more people which the author put before you. The notion of wanting one's country back is more profound as just like in 1963; some from the majority was fearful of sharing what they had or allowing equal rights for all and in today's term these acts seem pretty petty but right before our eyes in 2010 the same climate which was in the air and caused for The March is in the air today; as while the nation overwhelmingly supports change and took the bold step in electing an African-American as our leader; it is the minority who is hell bent on going back to the good old days or getting their country back and to Mr. Euchner's credit in writing the book; so you see a stark parallel in today's environment. Even today; some want to refight the Civil War and Euchner takes time to amplify why the March was critical; particularly the conditions leading up to the march and the political games. The only criticism.......there were so many unsung heroes or characters who participated in the planning; it would have been nice to have some pictures. This book is an easy read and worth investing your money0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Important Book; Well worth Reading!By AbeAs a young adult of the 60s; I lived through the civil rights movement; so I found this book fascinating as it provides an accurate history of the movement. As the current CNN review of this decade illustrates; it was an important time in the history of our country and one well worth revisiting as we seem to be yet again fighting for the civil rights of so many of our citizens.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Nobody Turn Me Around book by Charles EuchnerBy Janis McquarrieI found this book fascinating and full of facts that I did not know and some that corrobarated what I did. Used the book for an intranet article at my jobs Diversity Council and we were hard pressed to decide how to keep the article to the required 600 words because there was so much info we didn't want to leave out!! Definitely recommend to those interested in the 1963 March.
