Description: The region of Mesoamerica, extending from central Mexico through Honduras and El Salvador, was home to a variety of advanced civilizations in ancient times. These peoples, including the Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs, Toltecs, Zapotecs, Mixtecs, and Tarascans, developed their own distinctive cultural patterns that provide a fascinating contrast to the better-known ancient civilizations of the Old World.

This exciting new volume contains 25 chapters by authorities in ancient Mesoamerican civilizations. Their work was selected both for its use of primary archaeological and historical data and for its clarity of presentation. The book begins with the editors' introduction summarizing cultural developments in ancient Mesoamerica. The following chapters, each also introduced by the editors, cover such topics as Mesoamerican culture, social organization, political processes, economics, and religion.

Through its topical organization, the Reader breaks new ground. By avoiding the more common culture-by-culture approach, this format emphasizes the search for pan-Mesoamerican patterns of social and cultural life. Although each Mesoamerican culture was in some sense unique, all shared key religious, economic, social, and political features that are highlighted by the contributions to this book.

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